Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenations of N-Pyruvoyl-(S)-proline Esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.60.249

Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenations of the entitled compounds were carried out over palladium on charcoal in various solvents to afford N-<(S)-lactoyl>-(S)-proline esters with a d.e.(=diastereoisomeric excess) of up to 59percent.The stereochemistry of the catalytic hydrogenation was explained by the "chelation mechanism." And the effects of temperature and bulkiness of the ester groups on the asymmetric induction were also described.