Asymmetric hydrogenation of acrylic acid derivatives by novel chiral rhodium–phosphinediamine complex catalysts by selective ligation between two amino units of the ligand and electrostatic interaction

Abstract

The novel chiral phosphinediamine ligand (PN₂) having two amino units has been readily prepared from (S)-1-phenylethylamine derivatives and dichlorophosphine. In the hydrogenation of acrylic acids by a rhodium–PN₂ catalyst, high enantioselectivities were achieved by the effective chiral field formed through selective P-N chelation and electrostatic interaction between the amino unit of the ligand and the carboxy unit of the substrate.