A general preparation of chiral ruthenium(II) catalysts and the homogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral olefins and keto groups are presented. Some applications to the synthesis of biologically active compounds are reported. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Microbial reduction of 1-tetralone 2-carboxyesters as a source of new asymmetric synthons
The reduction of unsubstituted or methoxy-substituted (+/-)-2-carboxyethyl-1-tetralones by selected microorganisms affords optically active 1-hydroxy-2-carboxyethyl tetralins which can be used as versatile asymmetric synthons, for example in the preparation of biologically active methoxy-substituted 2R-aminotetralins. 1R,2R-(cis)-hydroxyesters of high optical purity are obtained with yeast strains, while the use of filamentous fungi leads to the enantiomeric 1S,2S-(cis)-hydroxyesters.
METHODS AND PRECURSORS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CHIRAL VICINAL AMINOALCOHOLS