Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto- enamines: An efficient approach to chiral γ-amino alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/adsc.201100305

A highly efficient and enantioselective hydrogenation of unprotected β-ketoenamines catalyzed with ruthenium(II) dichloro{(S)-(-)-2,2′- bis[di(3,5-xylyl)phosphino]-1,1′-binaphthyl}[(2S)-(+)-1, 1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1,2-butanediamine] {Ru[(S)-xylbinap][(S)-daipen] Cl₂} has been successfully developed. This methodology provides a straightforward access to free γ-secondary amino alcohols, which are key building blocks for a variety of pharmaceuticals and natural products, with high yields (>99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in all cases. Copyright