We report an iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation reaction for the preparation
of chiral homophenylalanine derivatives. Catalyzed by an iridium/f-amphox complex,
the asymmetric hydrogenation of styrylglyoxylamides was conducted smoothly with turnover
numbers of up to 10,000 and up to 98% ee. This method was successfully applied in
a synthesis of a fragment of benazepril, a drug used for the treatment of high blood
pressure.
Key words
homophenylalanines - asymmetric catalysis - iridium catalysis - hydrogenation - benazepril