Aqueous diastereoselective hydrogenation of folic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid in the presence of water-soluble Rh and Ir diphosphine complexes

Rhodium and iridium catalysts with chiral, water soluble diphosphine ligands, were used for the diastereoselective hydrogenation of folic acid disodium salt in water. Using a modified Rh/Josiphos type at 30 °C, l-tetrahydrofolic acid, a relevant pharmaceutical intermediate, was obtained with a selectivity of up to 49% de; at 70 °C turnover numbers of up to 2800 were achieved, albeit with lower selectivity. These results define the state of the art for this reaction.

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