Hydrogenation of aromatic-substituted olefins using organometallic catalyst

A process for the enantioselective hydrogenation of an aromatic-substituted olefin of the formula ##STR10## where Z is ##STR11## where R' is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, --CN, C(NH)OR" where R" is C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, or --C(O)NH.sub.2 ;

• and Ar is phenyl or naphthyl unsubstituted or substituted with C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkoxy, halo, or carboxylic acid or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl ester thereof, which comprises contacting said aromatic-substituted olefin with a catalytically effective amount of a ruthenium phosphite complex of the formula ##STR12## wherein a is from 1 to 3, b is 1 or 2, c is from 0 to 3;
• R is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, halo, amino, acetylamino, or sulfo;
• and X is ##STR13## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl;
• and R.sub.4 taken together with the nitrogen atom is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
• in the presence of gaseous hydrogen for a time and at a temperature sufficient to effect enantiomonic reduction of at least a portion of the double bond of said olefin.