Design of novel polymer-supported chiral catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in water

New polymer-supported chiral sulfonamides containing sulfonated pendant group have been synthesized. Chiral catalyst prepared from the new polymer-support is more effective for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in water compared to that prepared from conventional polystyrene-support. Polymer-supported catalysts containing quaternary ammonium salt as a pendant increased not only the reactivity but also the enantioselectivity in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in water. Moreover, this type of polymer can be reused without loss of the catalytic activity.