Asymmetric hydrogenation of trisubstituted N-acetyl enamides derived from 2-tetralones using ruthenium-SYNPHOS catalysts: a practical synthetic approach to the preparation of β3-adrenergic agonist SR58611A
asymmetric hydrogenation of various trisubstitutedenamidesderivedfrom 2-tetralones under mild reaction conditions using Ru-SYNPHOS catalysts is reported. This practical and clean method gives access to several chiral 2-aminotetralins derivatives in high isolated yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 95% depending on the substitution pattern of the aromaticring and the nature of the amide moiety.