Enantio- and Diastereoselective Hydrogenation of a Fluorinated Diketone.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of dibenzoyl-difluoro�methane has been studied for the first time. In contrast to �BINAL-H, baker’s yeast and CBS reduction procedures, ruthenium-catalysed hydrogenation using axially chiral diphosphine ligands provides excellent yield, diastereoselectivity and good enantioselectivity (up to 72% ee). Enantiomer enrichment by recrystallisation allows for the pure fluorinated diol to be isolated as a single enantiomer in moderate yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]