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.