Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of (E)-beta-(acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by Rh(i)-complexes of electron-rich P-chirogenic diphosphines.

Excellent enantioselectivities up to 99.7% were achieved in the hydrogenation of (E)-beta-(acylamino)acrylates by the use of Rh(I)-complexes of electron-rich diphosphines, t-Bu-BisP and t-Bu-MiniPHOS. Low-temperature NMR experiments testify that monohydrides with beta-carbon atom of the substrate bound to rhodium are involved in the catalytic cycle.