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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Acylative Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols: Tandem Catalysis by HyperBTM and Bäckvall's Ruthenium
Artis Kinens1,2, Simonas Balkaitis1,2, Omar K Ahmad3
1Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia.
Abstract:
Non-enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols by enantioselective acylation using an isothiourea-derived HyperBTM catalyst and racemization of slowly reacting alcohol by Bäckvall's ruthenium complex is reported. The DKR approach features high enantioselectivities (up to 99:1), employs easy-to-handle crystalline 4-nitrophenyl isobutyrate as the acylating reagent, and proceeds at room temperature and under an ambient atmosphere. The stereoinduction model featuring cation-π system interactions between the acylated HyperBTM catalyst and π electrons of an alcohol aryl subunit has been elaborated by DFT calculations.
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