Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligands TRAP-rhodium complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0957-4166(95)00330-R

Asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate catalyzed by the trans-chelating chiral diphosphine (R,R)-(S,S)-EtTRAP-rhodium complex gave (S)-dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 96% ee. Dimethyl 2-isopropylidenesuccinate, a tetrasubstituted olefin substrate, was also hydrogenated with (R,R)-(S,S)-BuTRAP-rhodium complex in high enantioselectivity (78% ee), but with opposite enantioselection.