Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of 1-alkylvinyl benzoates: a simple, nonenzymatic access to chiral 2-alkanols.
Going chiral! Highly enantioselective catalytic hydrogenations of enol esters 1 by using a Rh catalyst bearing a P-OP ligand are described (see scheme; NBD=norbornadiene). The catalytic system has a broad scope and allows the preparation of a wide range of chiral esters 2 bearing diverse alkyls or a benzyl group with high enantioselectivities. These esters can easily be converted in highly enantioenriched 2-alkanols.
['Kleman|Patryk|P|', 'González-Liste|Pedro J|PJ|', 'García-Garrido|Sergio E|SE|', 'Cadierno|Victorio|V|', 'Pizzano|Antonio|A|']
enantioselectivity esters alcohols asymmetric hydrogenation rhodium