Asymmetric Hydrogenation of β‐Secondary Amino Ketones Catalyzed by a Ruthenocenyl Phosphino‐oxazoline‐ruthenium Complex (RuPHOX‐Ru): the Synthesis of γ‐Secondary Amino Alcohols

Abstract

AbstractA ruthenocenyl phosphino‐oxazoline‐ruthenium complex (RuPHOX‐Ru) was applied successfully to the asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐secondary amino ketones, directly affording the corresponding chiral γ‐secondary amino alcohols in up to 99% yield and with 99% ee. Reaction with β‐(benzylamino)‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐one could be performed on a gram‐scale with a relatively low catalyst loading (up to 2000 S/C). The resulting hydrogenated product could be used for the synthesis of synthetically useful compounds.magnified image