The asymmetric synthesis of (R,R)‐formoterol via transfer hydrogenation with polyethylene glycol bound Rh catalyst in PEG2000 and water

(R,R)-formoterol was synthesized in seven steps with 4-hydroxyl-3-nitro-acetophenone as the starting material. The key intermediate, the chiral secondary alcohol 4, was prepared via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation with (S,S)-PEGBsDPEN as the ligand and sodium formate as the hydrogen donor under mild conditions. With a mixture of PEG 2000 and water as the reaction media, the catalyst system could be recycled four times.