Enantioselective hydrogenation with inexpensive, easily available monodentate phosphite ligands

Diastereomerically pure menthyl binaphthylphosphite ligands, easily accessible from the inexpensive, racemic binaphthol, L-menthol and PCl3, are shown to be effective in the rhodium-catalysed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral olefins. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.