Synfacts 2010(3): 0330-0330  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219322
Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis and Stereoselective Reactions
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

New Protocols for Noyori Transfer Hydrogenation

Contributor(s): Hisashi Yamamoto, Pingfan Li
L. Evanno, J. Ormala, P. M. Pihko*
University of Jyväskylä and Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 February 2010 (online)

Significance

The readily available ruthenium ­diamine complexes developed by Noyori are applied for the synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline and β-carboline alkaloids in aqueous solution with surfactant or with a water-methanol mixture as solvent. Sodium formate is used as reductant, and thus avoids the use of excess triethylamine as base.