Binol‐Derived Monodentate Phosphites and Phosphoramidites with Phosphorus Stereogenic Centers: Novel Ligands for Transition‐Metal Catalysis

Buried in the symmetry: Phosphorylation of ortho-substituted binol derivatives leads to monodentate phosphites (X=OR) or phosphoramidites (X=NR2) having stereogenic centers at phosphorus (see scheme). Such compounds are excellent ligands in rhodium-catalyzed olefin-hydrogenation (95–99 % ee) surpassing the C2-symmetric parent ligands.