2-azanorbornyl alcohols: very efficient ligands for ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones

Research points out that simple amino acids can be used as ligands in the ruthenium(II)-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aryl alkyl ketones. The bicyclic beta-amino alcohols are obtained by simple aza-Diels-Alder adduct formation between cyclopentadiene and iminium ion and adduct's subsequent reduction.