Enantioselective catalytic hydrogenation of activated ketones using polymer-containing nanocomposites

In this paper formation and stabilization of platinum nanoparticles in the hypercrosslinked polystyrene matrix modified with (−)-cinchonidine and the use of this catalyst in the reaction of ethylpyruvate CO bond enantioselective hydrogenation are discussed. The series of the catalysts has been synthesized and the influence of the reducing agent nature and the modification method on catalytic properties of nanocomposites have been investigated. All the catalysts developed were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescent analysis, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, and CO adsorption followed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy.