Stereoselective synthesis of syn β-hydroxy cycloalkane carboxylates: transfer hydrogenation of cyclic β-keto esters via dynamic kinetic resolution

The transfer hydrogenation of bicyclic and monocyclic β-keto esters using HCO2H/Et3N as the hydrogen source and TsDPEN-based Ru(II) catalysts proceeds with dynamic kinetic resolution to afford the corresponding cyclic β-hydroxy esters with moderate to excellent levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The mild reaction conditions used make possible to preserve in most cases the syn relative configuration of the products, providing a complementary tool to known approaches to the synthesis of anti isomers.