Enantioselective properties of asymmetric supported Ni and Ni-Co catalysts in the hydrogenation reaction of ethyl acetoacetate

The influence of the metal content on the support, the conditions of the preparation of the catalysts, and the reaction conditions on the enantioselectivity of the liquid-phase hydrogenation reaction of ethyl acetoacetate in the presence of Ni and Ni-Co catalysts supported on Al2O3 and SiO2, and modified by RR(+)-tartaric acid, was investigated. The maximal optical yield (66–76%) was obtained for the 20% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst.