Construction of Multiple-Substituted Chiral Cyclohexanes through Hydrogenative Desymmetrization of 2,2,5-Trisubstituted 1,3-Cyclohexanediones

The construction of chiral multiple-substituted cyclohexanes motifs is a challenging topic in organic synthesis. By the combination of desymmetrization and remote stereocontrol, a ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenative desymmetrization of 2,2,5-trisubstituted 1,3-cyclohexanediones has been successfully developed for the construction of chiral multiple-substituted cyclohexanes with high enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. When an ester group was introduced to the two-position, a hydrogenative desymmetrization/transesterification cascade occurred, affording the bicyclic lactones bearing three stereocenters, including two discrete stereocenters and one quaternary stereogenic center, with high enantioselectivity. The products are the multiple-substituted chiral cyclohexanes bearing the hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups, which provide a new opportunity for further precise elaboration.