Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Heteroarenes

Several approaches have been followed for the generation of optically active heteroarenes by homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation. One approach involves direct asymmetric hydrogenation of the unactivated heteroarene. This approach has been most successful for heteroarenes that are polycyclic, like quinolines, isoquinolines, or quinoxa-lines (benzopyrazines). Less success has been achieved on the direct asymmetric hydrogenation of pyridines. To address this limitation, the hydrogenation of modified pyridines has been conducted. In one set of examples, pyridines and related benzo-fused heteroarenes were modified at tfie nitrogen by acylation or the installation of another auxiliary to make the pyridine more electron poor and to dock the catalyst. In a second set of examples, a chiral auxiliary was placed on the pyridine, and the product was formed diastereoselectively by an achiral catalyst. 

A particular challenge in ttie reduction of six-membeied ring heteroarenes is the propensity of these basic heteroarenes to bind to the metal to deactivate it or to serve as an adiiral 

---

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Five-Membered Ring Heteroarenes... 

---