Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted β-acetoxy-α-enamido esters and efficient synthesis of droxidopa

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted β-acetoxy-α-enamido esters was developed, giving chiral β-acetoxy-α-amido esters in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The products could be easily transformed to β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives which are valuable chiral building blocks and a novel route for the synthesis of droxidopa was also developed.