Catalysis Letters, Vol.93, No.3-4, 171-176, 2004
Effect of cinchonidine and dissolved oxygen in continuous enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate
Continuous hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate was carried out in a fixed bed reactor over a Pt/SiO2 fiber catalyst with step changes in cinchonidine and oxygen feed. Presence of cinchonidine always led to a rate deceleration and appearance of enantioselectivity. Trace amounts of O-2 induced overall rate acceleration. A mechanism is proposed which includes ethyl pyruvate hydrogenation and decomposition.