Carbohydrate-derived monophosphite ligands for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of α- and β-dehydroamino acid esters

A series of monophosphite ligands derived from D-fructose and D-glucose have been synthesized and employed in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha- and beta-dehydroamino acid esters. A variety or chiral alpha- and beta-amino acid esters have been obtained in excellent enantiomeric excess (LIP to 98.4% ee). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.