ABSTRACT
The asymmetrically modified nickel catalyst (MNi) is the simplest heterogeneous catalyst for the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of prochiral ketones into the corresponding chiral alcohols. It can easily be prepared by soaking activated nickel black in an aqueous solution of an optically active modifying reagent. The unique functions of MNi are those associated with the cooperation between an active nickel surface for the hydrogenation and the chiral modifying reagent implanted on the surface for the enantio-face-differentiation of the substrate. In this respect, studies aiming to improve the enantiodifferentiating ability (e. d. a.) of MNi contribute not only to the development of a significant catalyst for the synthesis of optically active compounds, but also to an understanding of the characteristic phenomena taking place on the surface of the nickel catalysts. In the main part of this lecture, I would like to show the evolution of the MNi catalyst systems from a relatively low e.d.a. in the early days to the excellent e.d.a.'s that have been achieved in recent years. The lecture concludes with an outline of optical enrichment of the hydrogenation products
and some applications of the available optically enriched compounds for organic chemistries.
