Sequential C-H Arylation And Enantioselective Hydrogenation Enables Ideal Asymmetric Entry To The Indenopiperidine Core Of An 11 Beta-Hsd-1 Inhibitor

A concise asymmetric synthesis of an 11 beta-HSD-1 inhibitor has been achieved using inexpensive starting materials with excellent step-economy at low catalyst loadings. The catalytic enantioselective total synthesis of 1 was accomplished in 7 steps and 38% overall yield aided by the development of an innovative, sequential strategy involving Pd-catalyzed pyridinium C-H arylation and Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the resulting fused tricyclic indenopyridinium salt highlighted by the use of a unique P,N-ligand (MeO-BoQPhos) with 1000 ppm of [Ir(COD)Cl](2).