Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols with a readily available ruthenium-based racemization catalyst

An easy to handle and stable racemization catalyst for secondary alcohols is obtained by an in situ mixture of readily available [Ru(cymene)Cl2]2 with chelating aliphatic diamines. Optimization of the reaction revealed that N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine as ligand racemizes aromatic alcohols completely within 5 h. This easy to handle and stable catalytic system is combined with a lipase-catalyzed resolution to provide an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.