Enantio- and Diastereoselective, Complete Hydrogenation of Benzofurans by Cascade Catalysis

Moock, Daniel; Wagener, Tobias; Hu, Tianjiao; Gallagher, Timothy; Glorius, Frank

Abstract

We report an enantio- and diastereoselective, complete hydrogenation of multiply substituted benzofurans in a one-pot cascade catalysis. The developed protocol facilitates the controlled installation of up to six new defined stereocenters and produces architecturally complex octahydrobenzofurans, prevalent in many bioactive molecules. A unique match of a chiral homogeneous ruthenium-N-heterocyclic carbene complex and an in situ activated rhodium catalyst from a complex precursor act in sequence to enable the presented process.