A highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric reductive amination (ARA) of racemic β-keto lactams with molecular hydrogen and ammonium salts is disclosed for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure primary amino lactams through dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). By this approach, a range of syn primary β-amino lactams were obtained in high yields with high chemo-, enantio-, and diastereoselectivity (up to 98 % yield, 99 % ee, >20:1 d.r., syn products). The utility of the products has been demonstrated by rapid access to a key synthetic intermediate towards biologically active drug molecules. Meanwhile, mechanistic studies and control experiments indicate that the reaction may proceed through the hydrogenation of an iminium intermediate.

Scheme 2. Larger-scale synthesis and synthetic utility of product 2a. Boc = tert-butoxycarbonyl, DCM = dichloromethane.