Enantioselective synthesis of 1-aryl-tetrahydroisoquinolines through iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-aryl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines using the [IrCODCl](2)/(R)-3,5-diMe-Synphos catalyst is reported. Under mild reaction conditions, this atom-economical process provides easy access to a variety of enantioenriched 1-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives, which are important pharmacophores found in several pharmaceutical drug candidates, in high yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 99% after a single crystallization.