The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins constitutes a powerful method for the preparation of chiral compounds. A series of prochiral unsaturated amides were efficiently reduced with high enantioselectivities by means of an iridium N,P-complex-catalyzed hydrogenation. Its application in the synthesis of fenpropidin and the possibility of using isomeric mixtures of starting materials are attractive features of the method.
Key words
amides - enantioselectivity - iridium catalysis - asymmetric catalysis - hydrogenation