Synthesis of<i>anti</i>-1,3-Diols through RuCl<sub>3</sub>/PPh<sub>3</sub>-Mediated Hydrogenation of β-Hydroxy Ketones: An Alternative to Organoboron Reagents
Hydrogenation of enantioenriched β-hydroxyketones promoted by the catalyst generated in situ from commercially available and inexpensive RuCl3 and PPh3 under hydrogen pressure allowed the efficient preparation of a variety of anti-1,3-diols in good yields and with a high level of diastereoselectivity. This method should be an interesting alternative to organoboronreagents for the diastereoselective