Asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrahydropyrazines: Synthesis of (S)-piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide, an intermediate in the preparation of the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)01345-I

Hydrogenation of tetrahydropyrazine 4g with [(R)-BINAP(COD)Rh]TfO gave piperazine 6g in 96% yield and 99% ee. Simple hydrogenolytic deprotection and crystallization afforded the key chiral (S)-N-Boc-piperazine MK-639 intermediate I in high yield and enant