Synthesis of Monodentate Chiral Spiro Phosphonites and the Electronic Effect of Ligand in Asymmetric Hydrogenation

New monodentate chiral phosphonites were synthesized from enantiomerically pure 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-diol. The phosphonites 2 were efficient ligands for the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha- and beta-dehydroamino acid derivatives, providing the amino acids in high enantioselectivities. The study of electronic effect showed that the electron-withdrawing substitutent on the P-phenyl ring of the phosphonite ligand dramatically decreased both the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the ligand.