A new catalytic system has been developed for the asymmetric hydrogenation of β-secondary-amino ketones using a highly efficient P-chiral bisphosphine–rhodium complex in combination with ZnCl₂ as the activator of the catalyst. The chiral γ-secondary-amino alcohols were obtained in 90–94 % yields, 90–99 % enantioselectivities, and with high turnover numbers (up to 2000 S/C; S/C=substrate/catalyst ratio). A mechanism for the promoting effect of ZnCl₂ on the catalytic system has been proposed on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and HRMS studies. This method was successfully applied to the asymmetric syntheses of three important drugs, (S)-duloxetine, (R)-fluoxetine, and (R)-atomoxetine, in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.

A new catalytic system has been developed for the asymmetric hydrogenation of β-secondary-amino ketones using a highly efficient P-chiral bisphosphine–rhodium complex in combination with ZnCl₂ as the activator of the catalyst. The chiral γ-secondary-amino alcohols were obtained in 90–94 % yields, 90–99 % enantioselectivities, and with high turnover numbers (up to 2000 S/C; S/C=substrate/catalyst ratio). A mechanism for the promoting effect of ZnCl₂ on the catalytic system has been proposed on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and HRMS studies. This method was successfully applied to the asymmetric syntheses of three important drugs, (S)-duloxetine, (R)-fluoxetine, and (R)-atomoxetine, in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.

Allylic alcohols were directly used in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations of simple ketones under mild reaction conditions. The reaction proceeded smoothly at 20 °C by the concerted action of a Pd catalyst, a pyrrolidine co-catalyst, and a hydrogen-bonding solvent, and does not require any additional reagents. A computational study suggested that methanol plays a crucial role in the formation of the π-allylpalladium complex by lowering the activation barrier.

A Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of olefinic tosylamides was developed for the preparation of aryl-fused and N-containing six-membered heterocycles. Under optimized conditions the reaction proceeded with high activity and selectivity, with yields of up to 83% being obtained. This procedure provides a facile and efficient route to the aforementioned heterocycles with 2-acetoxy functionality.

(2S,3aR,7aS)-Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans-isomers, were readily prepared. These proline-like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi-substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3-b]pyrans (possessing a multi-substituted bicyclic backbone).

A highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition with triethylaluminium was developed using phosphoramidite ligands bearing a D₂-symmetric biphenyl backbone. For these ligands we demonstrated that the 3,3′,5,5′-substituents on the biphenyl backbone can completely reverse the absolute configuration of the products.

An efficient asymmetric domino reaction of amino aldehyde to β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was achieved by using trans-perhydroindolic acid 1d as a chiral organocatalyst with excellent asymmetric behavior. Under the optimal reaction conditions, products with more than 99% de and up to 93% ee were obtained in high chemical yield (up to 98%) for a series of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters. The methodology provided an efficient route to dihydropyran derivatives containing many substituent groups (including amino groups).

By using the iridium complex of a phosphine-oxazoline ligand with an axis-unfixed biphenyl backbone, a highly enantioselective hydrogenation of the CC bond of exocyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to afford α-chiral cyclic ketones, lactones and lactams was developed.