Asymmetric metal-free synthesis of fluoroquinolones by organocatalytic hydrogenation

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation enabling the synthesis of both 6-fluoro-2-methyltetrahydroquinoline and 7,8-difluoro-3-methyl-benzoxazine has been developed. These key building blocks can for the first time be synthesized using the same methodology allowing fast and efficient, metal-free access to the antibiotic fluoroquinolones flumequine and levofloxacine.