Asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated β-hydroxy esters via ruthenium-mediated hydrogenation

The homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation reactions of fluorinated β-keto esters using ruthenium(II) complexes bearing atropoisomeric diphosphines such as BINAP and MeOBIPHEP have yielded the corresponding β-hydroxy esters in quantitative yield with ee that ranged between 42 and >95%.