A remarkably effective catalyst for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in water and air was written by Wu, Xiaofeng;Vinci, Daniele;Ikariya, Takao;Xiao, Jiangliang. And the article was included in Chemical Communications (Cambridge, United Kingdom) in 2005.Synthetic Route of C9H9NO This article mentions the following:
A Rh(III) complex generated in situ from [Cp*RhCl2]2 and (1R,2R)-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (TsCYDN) serves as a remarkably effective, robust catalyst for the asym. transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones by HCOONa in water in air, affording alcs. in up to 99% ee. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, (R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile (cas: 101219-69-6Synthetic Route of C9H9NO).
(R)-4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)benzonitrile (cas: 101219-69-6) belongs to nitriles. The electronic structure of nitriles is very similar to that of an alkyne with the main difference being the presence of a set of lone pair electrons on the nitrogen. In addition, Nitriles can react with alkynes, which leads to an increase in carbon chain length (carbocyanation).Synthetic Route of C9H9NO
Referemce:
Nitrile – Wikipedia,
Nitriles – Chemistry LibreTexts