title: Efficient asymmetric hydrogenation with rhodium complexes of C(1)-symmetric 2,5-dimethylphospholane-diphenylphosphines.
abstract: The unsymmetrical, optically active ligands 1,2-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))((R,R)-2,5-dimethylphospholanyl) and the new 1,1'-Fe(C(5)H(4))(2)(PPh(2))((R,R)-2,5-dimethylphospholanyl) form complexes of the type [PtCl(2)(diphos)] and [Rh(diphos)(diene)][BF(4)]. The crystal structure of reveals that only one quadrant is blocked. Asymmetric hydrogenation of acrylic esters and enamides using and as catalysts show that the phenylene-backboned diphosphine gives a more efficient catalyst in terms of asymmetric induction than the more flexible ferrocene-backboned diphosphine. The best results, which were obtained with and enamide substrates, exceeded those obtained with Duphos catalysts. The rate of hydrogenation of the enamides with was 10 times faster than with [Rh(Duphos)(diene)][BF(4)]. A quadrant diagram can be used to predict the configuration of the major product, provided it is assumed to be derived from the less sterically congested intermediate.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantocks Close, Bristol, UK BS8 1TS.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basra
authors.forename: Johannes G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: De Vries
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hyett
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Heslop
authors.forename: A Guy
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Orpen
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Von Der Luehe