Asymmetric nitrile-hydration with bifunctional ruthenium catalysts bearing chiral N-sulfonyldiamine ligands

The asymmetric hydration of α-benzyl-α-methylmalononitrile was examined by using chiral bifunctional catalysts. Enantiomer discrimination of the prochiral dinitrile in the presence of water was demonstrated with a well-defined bifunctional amido-Ru complex having N-sulfonyldiamine ligands, and providing the corresponding amidato(amine) complexes diastereoselectively. Under the catalytic conditions, the (R)-cyanoamide was successfully obtained without further hydrolysis to carboxylic acids.

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