Continuous process for the enantioselective hydrogenation of alpha ketocarbonyl compounds

A continuous process for enantioselective hydrogenation of a substrate containing an alpha ketocarbonyl compound comprising the steps of:

• (i) contacting in a reactor charged with a platinum catalyst a substrate solution, a modifier for the platinum catalyst and hydrogen at a temperature of from about −20° C. to about 100° C. and at a pressure from about 2 bar to about 150 bar to convert the alpha ketocarbonyl compound to an alpha hydroxy carbonyl compound;
• (ii) continuously feeding the substrate to the reactor;
• (iii) continuously feeding modifier into the reactor;
• (iv) continuously feeding hydrogen to the reactor;
• (v) continuously discharging a reaction product from the reactor;
• and
• (vi) recovering the alpha hydroxy carbonyl compound from the reaction product.