Asymmetric Hydrogenation of alpha-Primary and Secondary Amino Ketones: Efficient Asymmetric Syntheses of (-)-Arbutamine and (-)-Denopamine. Journal   Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Citation   Chemistry. Publication date   2007 Jun 25 Authors   Shang G Liu D Allen SE Yang Q Zhang X Investigators   David X. Liu Qing Yang Xumu Zhang Abstract   Two beta-receptor agonists (-)-denopamine and (-)-arbutamine were prepared in good yields and enantioselectivities by asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected amino ketones for the first time by using Rh catalysts bearing electron-donating phosphine ligands. A series of alpha-primary and secondary amino ketones were synthesized and hydrogenated to produce various 1,2-amino alcohols in good yields and with good enantioselectivies. This Rh electron-donating phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric hyderogenation represents one of the most promising and convenient approaches towards the asymmetric synthesis of chiral amino alcohols.