A concise
and effective ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer
hydrogenation of β-substituted α-oxobutyrolactones has
been developed, delivering a series of cis-β-substituted
α-hydroxybutyrolactone derivatives with excellent yields, enantioselectivities,
and diastereoselectivities. Two consecutive stereogenic centers were
constructed in one step through dynamic kinetic resolution under basic
conditions. The reaction could be conducted on a gram scale without
loss of activity and enantioselectivity. The reductive products could
be easily transformed into useful building blocks.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.