Enantioselective hydrogenation of acetophenone by (1S, 2S)-DPEN–Ru(II)Cl2(PPh3)2 encapsulated in Al-MCM-41

A chiral ruthenium complex [(1S, 2S)-DPEN]–RuCl2(PPh3)2 (DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, PPh3 = triphenylphosph-ine) was encapsulated in the channel of Al-MCM-41 by electrostatic adsorption and 1,1-dichlorosilacyclobutane modification. The prepared heterogeneous catalyst showed the same catalytic activity and enantioselectivity as the corresponding homogeneous catalyst in the asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone, and could be reused at least seven times without significant loss of catalytic activity and enantioselectivity.