Development of an Enantioselective Hydrogenation Route to (S)-1-(2-(Methylsulfonyl)pyridin-4-yl)propan-1-amine

A highly enantioselective enamide hydrogenation route to the title amine was developed. Highlights of the synthesis include an efficient two-step synthesis of a 2-sulfonyl 4-pyridyl ethyl ketone, a simple enamide synthesis by direct condensation of propionamide with a ketone, catalytic asymmetric enamide hydrogenation employing the in-house-developed ligand MeO-BIBOP, and a mild epimerization-free deprotection of a propionamide using Koenig’s procedure.