First Iridium-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β-Nitroacrylates

Abstract

The first highly chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenation of β-nitroacrylates was accomplished with an iridium catalyst (Ir-4) with yields and enantioselectivities of up to 96% and 98% ee, respectively. The resulting α-chiral β-nitro propionates are attractive building blocks for the synthesis of chiral β(2)-amino acids, which are the core scaffolds of bioactive natural products, pharmaceuticals, and β-peptides.