Asymmetric catalytic reduction of carbonyl compounds using C2 symmetric diamines as chiral ligands was written by Gamez, Patrick;Fache, Fabienne;Lemaire, Marc. And the article was included in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry in 1995.Safety of (R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile This article mentions the following:
The catalytic asym. reduction of prochiral ketones by hydride transfer using various C2 sym. chiral diamines as ligands and rhodium complexes is studied. Kinetic studies show an increase in the enantiomeric excess with the conversion. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, (R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile (cas: 101219-69-6Safety of (R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile).
(R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile (cas: 101219-69-6) belongs to nitriles. The R-C-N bond angle in and nitrile is 180° which give a nitrile functional group a linear shape. Both the carbon and the nitrogen are sp hydridized which leaves them both with two p orbitals which overlap to form the two π bond in the triple bond. Nitrile groups in organic compounds can undergo a variety of reactions depending on the reactants or conditions. A nitrile group can be hydrolyzed, reduced, or ejected from a molecule as a cyanide ion.Safety of (R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile
Referemce:
Nitrile – Wikipedia,
Nitriles – Chemistry LibreTexts