Asymmetric hydrogenation of acyclic enol esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00730-8

High enantioselectivity has been observed for the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters bearing a vinylic (≤94% ee) or acetylenic (>97% ee) substituent using a rhodium-chiral bisphosphine catalyst. This is at variance with the hydrogenation of enol esters bearing a saturated substituent, which are hydrogenated with only moderate enantioselectivity under the same conditions.