Highly Regio- and Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Conjugated α-Substituted Dienoic Acids

Org Lett. 2020 Apr 17;22(8):3149-3154. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c00915. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Abstract

Highly regio- and enantioselective hydrogenation of conjugated α-substituted dienoic acids was realized for the first time using Trifer-Rh complex, providing a straightforward method for the synthesis of chiral α-substituted γ,δ-unsaturated acids. DFT calculations revealed N+H-O hydrogen bonding interaction is formed to stabilize the transition state and the coordination of 4,5-double bond to Rh(III) center would facilitate the reductive elimination process. This hydrogenation provided a gram-scale synthesis of the precursor of sacubitril.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't