Rh-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Functionalized Olefins with Chiral Ferrocenylphosphine-Spiro Phosphonamidite Ligands

A highly efficient Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of functionalized olefins has been realized by a new family of highly rigid chiral ferrocenylphosphine-spiro phosphonamidite ligands. Excellent enantiocontrol (>99% ee in most cases) was achieved with a wide range of alpha-dehydroamino acid esters and alpha-enamides. This practicable catalytic system was further applied in the scalable synthesis of highly optically pure key intermediates of cinacalcet and D-phenylalanine.

Automated summary

A highly efficient Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation method has been developed using a new family of highly rigid chiral ferrocenylphosphine-spirophosphonamidite ligands, with excellent enantioselectivity achieved. This catalytic system can be applied in the scalable synthesis of highly optically pure key intermediates for drug production.