The efficient chiral Ru 3(CO) 12 systems were prepared in situ from Ru 3(CO) 12 and various chiral diimino-or diamino-diphosphine tetradentate ligands. The systems have been used for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of propiophenone in 2-propanol, leading to 1-phenyl-1-propanol in a 98% yield and 96% e.e. The IR study suggests that the carbonyl hydride anion [HRu 3(CO) 11]- most probably exists as a principal species under the reaction conditions. The high chiral efficiency may be due to the synergetic effect produced by the neighboring ruthenium atoms and a special chiral micro-environment involving the polydentate ligand and the Ru 3 framework.
