Hydrogenolysis of N-protected aminooxetanes over palladium: An efficient method for a one-step ring opening and debenzylation reaction

An efficient method for the palladium mediated hydrogenation of an optically active, N-protected aminooxetane derivative has been developed. Using appropriate solvents, in a one-step reaction, a chiral 1,4-aminoalcohol derivative [(2S,3R)-4-amino-3-benzoyloxy-2-benzylbutan-1-ol] was formed over a Pd/C catalyst, during hydrogenolytic ring opening and debenzylation reactions.