Download PDF
Synfacts 2007(10): 1077-1077  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-962020
Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis and Stereoselective Reactions
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Enantioselective Synthesis of Roche Ester Derivatives

Contributor(s): Mark Lautens, Praew Thansandote
S. Jeulin, T. Ayad, V. Ratovelomanana-Vidal*, J.-P. Genêt*
Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, France
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 November 2007 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Significance

This report presents a high-yielding and enantioselective synthesis of both enantio­mers of the popular Roche ester by Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation of readily-available acrylate esters. The cationic Ru-SYNPHOS catalyst was developed in the author’s laboratory and can be easily prepared in one step. The usefulness of the methodology was highlighted by presenting a gram-scale experiment which resulted in 98% yield and a highly reproducible 94% enantioselectivity.