A series of enantiomerically pure γ-heteroatom substituted β-hydroxy esters were synthesized with high enantioselectivities (up to 99.1% ee) by hydrogenation of γ- heteroatom substituted β-keto esters in the presence of Ru-(S)-SunPhos catalyst. These asymmetric hydrogenations provide key building blocks for a variety of naturally occurring and biologically active compounds.
[Jones, Raymond C. F.; Bhalay, Gurdip; Carter, Paul A.; Duller, Kathryn A. M.; Dunn, Stephen H. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1972-1999), 1999 , # 7 p. 765 - 776]
[Jones, Raymond C. F.; Bhalay, Gurdip; Carter, Paul A.; Duller, Kathryn A. M.; Dunn, Stephen H. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1972-1999), 1999 , # 7 p. 765 - 776]