Asymmetric hydrogenation of alkyl(vinyl)thioethers: a promising approach to α-chiral thioethers

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tetasy.2007.11.020

This paper describes the enantioselective hydrogenation of vinylthioethers. We show that thioether derivatives of maleic esters can be hydrogenated with full conversion and up to 60% ee, and that α-thioether cinnamic acids can be hydrogenated in 51% ee with modest conversion.