Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-arylacrylic and β-arylbut-3-enoic acids catalyzed by a Rh(i) complex of a monodentate secondary phosphine oxide ligand

Abstract

The RhI complexes of chiral secondary phosphine oxide ligands have been disclosed to be efficient for the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of α-arylacrylic and β-arylbut-3-enoic acids, providing the corresponding chiral α-arylpropanoic and β-arylbutanoic acids in excellent yields with up to 97% ee, including several anti-inflammatory drugs.