Practical P-chiral phosphane ligand for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A highly electron-donating and conformationally rigid P-chiral bis(trialkylphospholane) ligand 2 (DuanPhos) has been prepared in both enantiomeric forms through a concise synthesis. Rh-2 complex has exhibited remarkably high enantioselectivities (up to > 99% ee) and reactivities (up to 10,000 TON) for the hydrogenation of a wide variety of functionalized prochiral alkenes (5 different types), which provides a very practical catalytic system for the preparation of various synthetically useful chiral compounds. (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co.