Noyori has also demonstrated the kinetic resolution of allylic alcohols by asymmetric hydrogenation of the olefin.
Utilizing the Ru[BINAP] complex, selective hydrogenation can give high ees of the unsaturated alcohol in addition to the hydrogenated alcohol, as shown below. Thus, a second hydrogenation of the enantioenriched allylic alcohol remaining will give enantiomerically pure samples of both enantiomers of the saturated alcohol. Noyori has resolved a number of allylic alcohols with good to excellent yields and good to excellent ees (up to >99%).