Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of benzaldehydes.

A combined system of RuCl[(R, R)-YCH(C(6)H(5))CH(C(6)H(5))NH(2)](eta(6)-arene) (Y = NSO(2)C(6)H(4)-4-CH(3) or O) and t-C(4)H(9)OK catalyzes the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various benzaldehyde-1-d derivatives with 2-propanol to yield (R)-benzyl-1-d alcohols in 95-99% ee and with >99% isotopic purity. Reaction of benzaldehydes with a DCO(2)D-triethylamine mixture and the R,R catalyst affords the S deuterated alcohols in 97-99% ee.