Asymmetric

Hydrogenation

1
2
 Asymmetric Hydrogenation

• In 1968,Prof. Knowles modified Wilkinson’s catalyst by

using a chiral phosphine ligand to generate a chiral
catalyst

Chiral phosphine ligand Symmetric phosphine ligand

3
 Synthesis of L-DOPA(Levodopa)

L-DOPA (S-DOPA)
[ Neurotransmitter precursor,
Parkinson’s disease treatment ]

(S,S)-DIPAMP

Angew.Chem.Int.Edit., 2002, Vol.41, 1998. 4

Catalytic pathway and reaction intermediates

Two diastereomeric
complexes formed

5
 Synthesis of NAPROXEN

[ Non steroidal,anti inflammatory drug ]

6
Angew.Chem.Int.Edit., 2002, Vol.41, 2008.
 Synthesis of L-menthol

(98% ee)

R-BINAP Mirror S-BINAP Catalyst

plane
7
Catalytic pathway and reaction intermediates

8
9
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