Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of 1‐Alkylvinyl Benzoates: A Simple, Nonenzymatic Access to Chiral 2‐Alkanols

Abstract

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.