Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Polynitrogen Heterocycle-Substituted Phenylacrylonitriles

A highly efficient enantioselective hydrogenation of polynitrogen heterocycle-substituted phenylacrylonitriles catalyzed by the Rh-f-spiroPhos complex has been developed. A series of chiral α- and β-polynitrogen heterocycle-substituted nitriles were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9% ee). This method provides an efficient straightforward approach for synthesis of chiral polynitrogen heterocycles, which is one of the most important and prevalent structures in pharmaceuticals and natural products.