The Enantioface-differentiating (Asymmetric) Hydrogenation of the C=O Double Bond with Modified Raney Nickel. XXXVI. The Development of Modified Nickel Catalysts with High Enantioface-differentiating Abilities

Abstract
Various types of modified nickel catalysts were prepared and their enantioface-differentiating (asymmetric) abilities were examined. It was found that the presence of aluminum or related metal compounds in the catalyst was unfavorable for the effective enantioface-differentiating catalyst. The modification with a solution containing tartaric acid and inorganic salt gave a high enantioface-differentiating ability to Raney nickel and reduced nickel catalyst. Among the modified nickel catalysts examined, the Raney nickel modified with tartaric acid and sodium bromide gave the best result with respect to the hydrogenation activity and enantioface-differentiating ability (optical yield 88%). NaBr adsorbed on Raney nickel was found to inhibit the nonenantioface-differentiating hydrogenation.