Highly enantioselective synthesis of terutroban key intermediate via asymmetric hydrogenation

A chiral ( R ) key intermediate of the biologically active form of terutroban has been prepared by asymmetric hydrogenation. The catalysts are based on very easily accessible ruthenium complexes modified by chiral phosphorous ligands. The use of the chiral catASium ® T ligands family allowed us to realize this transformation efficiently in terms of yield and enantioselectivity (ee up to 92%) with high substrate/catalyst ratios.