Enantioselective Synthesis of Some Tetracyclic Isoquinoline Alkaloids by Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysed by a Chiral Ruthenium Complex

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalysed by chiral ruthenium complexes was the method for enantioselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-coralydine, (S)-(−)-homoprotoberberine, and (S)-(+)-homoaporphine in fair to excellent enantiomeric purity.