A new, mild, metal-free, HSiCl3-mediated reduction of both aromatic and aliphatic nitro groups to amines that is of wide general applicability, tolerant of many functional groups, and respectful of the stereochemical integrity of stereocenters is reported.
A highly stereoselective trichlorosilane-mediated reduction of N-benzyl enamines was developed; the combination of a low cost, easy to make metal-free catalyst and an inexpensive chiral auxiliary allowed to perform the reaction on substrates with different structural features often with total control of the stereoselectivity. By easy deprotection through hydrogenolysis followed by conversion of β-aminoester to 2-azetidinones, the synthesis of enantiomerically pure β-lactams (>98% e.e.) was successfully accomplished.
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