General asymmetric synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides catalyzed by BINAP-ruthenium(II) complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00081a007

In the presence of a small amount of RuX₂[(R)- or (S)-BINAP] (X = anionic ligand) a wide range of (Z)-2-acyl-1-benzylidene-1,2,3,4- tetrahydroisoquinolines are hydrogenated to give the saturated products in nearly quantitative yields and in high (up to 100%) optical yields. The enamide substrates are selectively prepared by N-acylation of the corresponding 1-benzylated 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines under suitable acylation conditions; some crystalline materials having low solubility are obtained by a second-order Z/E stereomutation technique utilizing the double-bond photolability and lattice energy effects. This asymmetric hydrogenation sets the key stereogenic center in a predictable manner, either R or S flexibly, at the C(1) position of the benzylated tetrahydroisoquinolines. The chiral products are converted by standard functional group modification to tetrahydropapaverine, laudanosine, tretoquinol, norreticuline, etc. Hydrogenation of the simple 1-methylene substrate is used for synthesis of salsolidine. This enantioselective hydrogenation is applied to the synthesis of morphine and its artificial analogues such as morphinans and benzomorphans of either chirality. A mnemonic device is presented for predicting the reactivity and enantiofacial selection of the BINAP-Ru catalyzed hydrogenation. Reaction with BINAP-Rh catalyst proceeds with a lower enantioselectivity and an opposite sense of asymmetric induction.