Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Pyrimidines.

The asymmetric hydrogenation of pyrimidines proceeded with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) using an iridium catalyst composed of [IrCl(cod)]2, a ferrocene-containing chiral diphosphine ligand (Josiphos), iodine, and Yb(OTf)3 (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene). The chiral catalyst converted various 4-substituted pyrimidines into chiral 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines in high yield. The lanthanide triflate is crucial for achieving the high enantioselectivity as well as for activating the heteroarene substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]