Asymmetric one-pot reactions applying heterogeneous chemical catalysts and unifying the benefits of these catalytic materials with the advantages of one-pot methods, are surveyed.

The sonochemical enantioselective hydrogenation of different alpha-ketoesters to the corresponding hydroxy derivatives over cinchona modified Pt catalysts is described. Ultrasonic irradiation was found to be beneficial in improving the optical yields. Besides studying the reaction rates and enantioselectivities, the effect of ultrasonics on the catalyst-modifier system and the scale-up of the process will also be considered.

In the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate (EtPy) over β-isocinchonine (β-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.