New chiral 1,3-diphosphine ligands for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation: A search for electronic effects

Abstract

New electron-rich chiral 1,3-diphosphines of the BDPP type were prepared from 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-diol by an economically feasible synthetic approach. The σ-donor properties of the phosphines were determined by measurement of J(31P-77Se) coupling constants in the corresponding phosphine selenides. For comparison related, but electronically different, 1,3-diphosphines were considered. The new diphosphines showed good enantioselectivities as ligands in the Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of benchmark substrates and β-amino acid precursors (up to 98% ee). The electronic effects on the outcome of the enantioselective catalysis have been analyzed.