Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic α, β-unsaturated ketones catalysed by η6-p-cymene/ruthenium (II) and η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl/rhodium (III) complexes have been investigated. Cyclic α, β-unsaturated ketones appeared to be more suitable substrates for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure allylic alcohols than do acyclic α, β- unsaturated ketones. A proposed mechanism for the formation of 4-phenyl-[1, 3]-dioxolan- ...