The Lonza Dextrometorphan Process

These additional unit operations make the economic advantage of this strategy questionable. Therefore a direct enantioselective hydrogenation of 10 to 12 (Fig. 10) was sought [10]. 

At the beginning of our investigations, we set the minimal objectives for the catalyst performance which would allow a future industrial application of the process. The following targets had to be reached enantioselectivity 80%, S/C ratio 1500, TOFav 200 per hour. 

---