The Synthesis of a Chiral Fluoxetine Intermediate by Catalytic Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Benzoylacetamide.

Abstract In the presence of a chiral BINAP–ruthenium(II) catalyst, asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto propanoic acid N-methyl amide under 200 psi of hydrogen pressure furnished the corresponding 3-hydroxypropanoic acid N-methyl amide as the single enantiomer. The product can be used as an intermediate for chiral fluoxetine.