Asymmetric hydrogenation of the C-C double bond of 1- and 1,2-methylated maleimides with cultured suspension cells of Marchantia polymorpha

Suspension cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha have the potential to hydrogenate the C-C double bonds of 2-methyl- and 2,3-dimethylmaleimide derivatives to give enantiomerically pure (2R)-2-methyl- and (2R, 3R)-2, 3-dimethylsuccinimide derivatives, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.