The asymmetric hydrogenation of the conformationally flexible racemic α-substituted acyclic dialkyl ketones via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has been developed by using Ru-SDPs/diamine catalysts. Chiral alcohols were produced in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities (85%─97% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 97:3). This hydrogenation reaction provided a new approach to the synthesis of the key intermediate of J-104118.
