Résumé
Hydrogenation of enantioenriched beta-hydroxy ketones 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 diastereo-selectivity. This method should be an interesting alternative to organoboron reagents for the diastereoselective reduction of beta-hydroxy ketones. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)