Investigation into an asymmetric hydrogenation promoted by rhodium-phosphetane complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01767-0

The bis-phosphetanes 1 and 2 have been used as chiral ligands in the rhodium-catalysed hydrogenations of dehydroamino acid derivatives. An unusual increase of the optical yields at high hydrogen pressures has been noticed. Mechanistic implications are dis