Catalysis Letters, Vol.67, No.2-4, 113-115, 2000
Clean catalysis with clean solvents - phosphonium tosylates for transfer hydrogenation reactions
Molten salts have been applied for the first time as solvents in rhodium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reactions. The salts are tetraalkyl/aryl phosphonium tosylates; they are liquid at the reaction temperature and solid at room temperature, thereby facilitating catalyst recovery. In certain cases they can give rise to favourable enantioselectivities.