ASYMMETRIC HYDROGENATION OF DIHYDROFUROIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES

摘要

A process for asymmetric hydrogenation of a dihydrofuroimidazole derivative of the general formula (I): <IMG> I wherein R1 represents a cleavable protective group and R2 represents hydrogen or a cleavable protective group, with hydrogen in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst to produce the corresponding diastereomeric tetrahydrofuroimidazole derivative of the general formula (II): <IMG> II Tetrahydrofuroimidazole derivatives of the general formula II are intermediate products for the production of vitamin (+)-biotin.