Chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

This review reports the recent developments in the field of asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of metal catalysts containing monodentate phosphorus ligands. Besides monophosphines, that have been used at the origin of asymmetric hydrogenation, it mainly includes the use of monophosphites and monophosphoramidites, which when associated to rhodium precursors have recently led to very efficient enantioselective catalytic systems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.