Enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate over tartaric acid modified Ni catalyst at atmospheric pressure of hydrogen assisted by hydrogen transfer reaction

The enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate was carried out under the atmospheric pressure of hydrogen (gauge pressure: 0 MPa) assisted by hydrogen transfer from 2-propanol. It was revealed that the tartaric acid-NaBr-modified supported nickel catalyst, especially Ni/CeO 2 , produced a higher enantioselectivity than the modified Raney nickel catalyst under the atmospheric pressure of hydrogen. Catalyst preparation and hydrogenation conditions for the hydrogenation over the modified Ni/CeO 2 were studied. The Ni/CeO 2 prepared by calcination at 773 K and reduction at 773 K gave the best result. The enantioselectivity of 64 % (22 % conversion) was attained under the atmospheric pressure of hydrogen at 323 K assisted the by hydrogen transfer from the solvent.