Rh-Catalyzed One-Pot Sequential Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Dehydroamino Ketones for the Synthesis of Chiral Cyclic trans-β-Amino Alcohols.

Catalyzed by a rhodium complex of P-stereogenic diphosphine ligand (R)-2-tert-butylmethylphosphino-3-(di-tert-butylphosphino)quinoxaline ((R)-3H-QuinoxP*), five-membered cyclic α-dehydroamino ketones bearing endocyclic vinyl and endocyclic keto-carbonyl groups were sequentially hydrogenated to give chiral cyclic trans-β-amino alcohols with two contiguous stereocenters in quantitative conversions, excellent enantioselectivities and good diastereoselectivities.