Iridium/f-Amphol-catalyzed Efficient Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Benzo-fused Cyclic Ketones

Iridium/f-Amphol-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various benzo-fused five to seven-membered cyclic ketones was successfully developed, affording a series of chiral benzo-fused cyclic alcohols with excellent results (75%-99% yields, 93%->99% ee, and TON up to 297 000). The enantioenriched products can be employed as key intermediates or motifs for the synthesis of some important biologically active compounds, such as rasagiline mesylate TVP-1012 used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the enantiomer of anticonvulsant drug eslicarbazepine acetate (BIA 2-093).