Synthesis and characterization of chiral phosphirane derivatives of [(μ-H)4Ru4(CO)12] and their application in the hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid

Tetraruthenium tetrahydrido clusters containing chiral binaphthyl-derived mono- or di-phosphiranes have been synthesized and characterized. The phosphirane-substituted clusters were found to be good catalysts for the hydrogenation of tiglic acid (trans-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid) but enantioselective hydrogenation could not be detected.103