CATALYTIC, ENANTIOSELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF HETEROAROMATIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

Direct, enantioselective, catalytic hydrogenation of heteroarenes, as depicted in Scheme 1, provides straightforward, atom-economical access to the corresponding chiral heterocycles, which are found as common structural motifs in many important biologically active reagents and alkaloids. Compared with other well-studied prochi-ral substrates (e.g., ketones, imines, and olefins), the enantioselective hydrogenation of heteroarenes is a more recent development. The major challenges in accomplishing this transformation include the high stability of these aromatic compounds and the poisoning effects of nitrogen or sulfur atoms on the chiral catalysts.