Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Substituted Vinyl Sulfones: An Efficient Approach to Chiral Sulfones.

Rh/(S)-(+)-DTBM-Segphos complex catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-substituted vinyl sulfones has been achieved, furnishing the desired products in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (>90% yield, up to 99% ee). This method provided an efficient approach to α-substituted chiral sulfones under mild conditions and has potential applications in organic synthesis.