Elina Buitrago, Helena Lundberg, Hans F. Andersson
Dec 1, 2012
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0
Influential Citations
28
Citations
Journal
ChemCatChem
Abstract
A total of 21 amino acid based ligands including hydroxy amide, thioamide, and hydroxamic acid functionalities, respectively, were combined with [Ru(p‐cymene)Cl2]2 and [RhCp*Cl2]2, and used as catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of four different heteroaromatic ketones in 2‐propanol. The reactions were performed on a Chemspeed automated high‐throughput screening robotic platform. Optimal catalysts were identified for the individual heterocyclic substrate classes. Based on these results, the formal syntheses of the antidepressant drugs (R)‐fluoxetine and (S)‐duloxetine were conducted by using the found catalysts in the key reaction step, which results in high isolated yields (94 %) and excellent product enantioselectivities (>99 % ee) of the formed 1,3‐amino alcohols.