Transfer hydrogenation process and catalyst

A catalyst of general formula:

• wherein:
• R7 represents an optionally substituted cyclopentadienyl group;
• A represents NR8, NR9, NHR8 or NR8R9 where R8 is H, C(O)R10, SO2R10, C(O)NR10R14, C(S)NR10R14, C(═NR14)SR15 or C(═NR14)OR15, R9 and R10 each independently represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, perhalogenated hydrocarbyl or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group, and R14 and R15 are each independently hydrogen or a group as defined for R10;
• B represents —O—, —OH, OR11, —S—, —SH, SR11, NR11, NR12, NHR12 or NR11R12 where R12 is H, C(O)R13, SO2R13, C(O)NR13R16, C(S)NR13R16, C(═NR16)SR17 or C(═NR16)OR17, R11 and R13 each independently represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, perhalogenated hydrocarbyl or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group, and R16 and R17 are each independently hydrogen or a group as defined for R13;
• E represents a linking group having at least one stereospecific center and wherein A and B are linked through 2, 3 or 4 atoms, said atoms being unsubstituted or substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, amino, thiol, acyl, hydrocarbyl, perhalogenated hydrocarbyl, heterocyclyl, hydrocarbyloxy, mono- or di-hydrocarbylamino, hydrocarbylthio, esters, carbonates, amides, sulfonyl and sulfonamido groups;
• M represents a group VIII transition metal;
• and
• Y represents an anionic group, a basic ligand or a vacant site;
• provided that (i) when Y is not a vacant site that at least one of A or B carries a hydrogen atom.