Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation in the Manufacture of d-Biotin and Dextromethorphan

Abstract

Two enantiomerically pure products, (+)-biotin and dextromethorphan, have been chosen to illustrate the acquisition, development, and implementation of the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation technology at Lonza Fine Chemicals. Taking advantage of the recently developed Ciba-Geigy ferrocenyl-type phosphine ligands, processes for the stereoselective hydrogenation of a C=C- and a C=N bond, respectively, have been developed and successfully scaled up.