“Achiral” Benzophenone Ligand for Highly Enantioselective Ru Catalysts in Ketone Hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] The chirality of an "achiral" benzophenone-based complex can be controlled. The benzophenone-based complex thus controlled affords high enantioselectivity in the catalytic asymmetric ketone hydrogenation (up to 99% ee, >99% yield).