In the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate (EtPy) over beta-isocinchonine (beta-ICN) modified Pt-alumina catalysts, the major enantiomer was (R)-ethyl lactate ((R)-EtLt (ee 50%)) in toluene, while in AcOH (S)-EtLt (ee 60%) was formed; the (R) configuration is opposite to what is expected from the absolute configuration of the cinchonine backbone.

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The enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate (EtPy) was studied on Pt-alumina catalyst modified by cinchonine (CN) and for comparison by cinchonidine (CD) in toluene and in AcOH. The effects of the modifiers concentration on the reaction rate and the enantioselectivity were examined. Using the Engelhard 4759 catalyst under mild experimental conditions (room temperature, hydrogen pressure 1 bar) in the case of CN (S)-ethyl lactate (EtLt) formed in excess (ee) (in AcOH ee max $ 88%; in toluene ee max $ 72%). In the case of CD (R)-EtLt formed in excess (in AcOH ee max $93%; in toluene ee max $ 84%). The results of H-D exchange measurements and results of modifier mixtures suggest that the compounds responsible for chiral induction are different intermediates, which structure depends mostly on the acidic or non-acidic nature of the hydrogenation medium. The proposed structure of intermediate responsible for enantioselection is an 1:1 CN-or CD-EtPy surface complex in which the quinoline skeleton of CD approximately parallel on the Pt surface while the quinoline plane of CN being tilted relative to the Pt surface under identical experimental conditions.

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