Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Readily available ruthenium complex for efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of aromatic α-hydroxy ketones
Santosh Agrawal1, Elisa Martínez-Castro, Rocío Marcos
1Department of Organic Chemistry, The Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
A ruthenium complex formed from commercially available [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2 and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane catalyzes the racemization of aromatic α-hydroxy ketones very efficiently at room temperature. The racemization is fully compatible with a kinetic resolution catalyzed by a lipase from Pseudomonas stutzeri. This is the first example of dynamic kinetic resolution of α-hydroxy ketones at ambient temperature in which the metal and enzyme catalysts work in concert in one pot at room temperature to give quantitative yields of esters of α-hydroxy ketones with very high enantioselectivity.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Aryldiazonium Salts: Aromatic SN1
In the Sandmeyer reaction, for example, the diazonio group is replaced by a chloro, bromo,...

