The first and second generation multiple dendritic ligands based on chiral diamine were synthesizedin a convergent approach and were well-characterized by NMR and MS techniques. Their rutheniumcomplexes prepared in situ had good solubility in the reaction medium (azeotrope of formic acidand triethylamine) and demonstrated high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity comparable tomonomeric catalysts in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines. Quantitativeyields and for some cases a slightly higher enantioselectivity (up to 98.7% ee) were obtained in thedendritic catalysis. Considering the high local catalyst concentrations at the periphery, diones weretested for the possible synergic reactivity between catalytic units at the surface, while no apparentdifferences were noted.
