Fe-catalysed Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Maleimide to Succinimide using Water as Hydrogen Source

Abstract

Herein, we demonstrated the first iron-catalysed chemo-selective transfer hydrogenation of maleimides to succinimides using water as the hydrogen source and zinc as the reductant. No additional ligand is required for the transformations. Broad substrate scope under milder reaction conditions resulted in a series of corresponding succinimides in excellent yield (41 examples, up to 95% yield). Notably, amino acid–derived succinimides along with late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules are key highlight. Preliminary mechanistic and deuterium-labelling studies including kinetic experiments were performed to establish the chemo-selective hydrogenation.