Synthesis of aminomethyl quinazoline based ruthenium (II) complex and its application in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation under mild conditions

•Considerable reactivity was succeeded under mild condition.•A possible transition state structure was proposed first time for benzylic group effect on the ligand in the ATH reaction.•Ligand structure can be easily modified by employing the range of commercially available optically pure α-amino acids.

The new chiral aminomethyl quinazoline (amq) type ligand derived from l-phenylalanine was synthesized and coordinated with [RuCl2(PPh3)dppb] to obtain ruthenium(II) complex. This catalyst displayed considerable reactivity (up to 97% ee and 99% conversion) in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones using 2-propanol as a hydrogen source in the presence of NaOiPr.

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