Asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by a ruthenium(ii)-indan–ambox complexThis article is part of a ChemComm ‘Catalysis in Organic Synthesis’ web-theme issue showcasing high quality research in organic chemistry. Please see our website (http://www.rsc.org/chemcomm/organicwebtheme2009) to access the other papers in this issue.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section. See DOI: 10.1039/b927028k

(S,R)-Indan–ambox ligand and its ruthenium(ii) complex have been prepared and successfully applied to asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral simple ketones. A wide range of unfunctionalized ketones are reduced by Ru(ii)-indan–ambox catalyst with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]