Enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino acid esters catalyzed by rhodium complexes with chiral bisaminophosphine ligands

Abstract

A highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of a series of chiral bisaminophosphine ligands was well established with several remarkable features. The synthetic utility of these ligands was explored for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of α-dehydroamino acid esters. Up to 98% ee values were achieved for the enantioselective synthesis of aminocarboxylic acids and their derivatives, which are very important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of a variety of natural products and biologically active molecules. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.