Mesoporous silica-supported chiral norephedrine ligands for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Optically active norephedrine was anchored on three different mesoporous silica materials. The immobilized norephedrines could be served as enantioselective ligands in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The heterogeneous catalysts gave satisfactory enantioselectivity as well as high levels of catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation.