A Bisphosphepine Ligand with Stereogenic Phosphorus Centers for the Practical Synthesis of β‐Aryl‐β‐Amino Acids by Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Excellent enantioselectivities and reactivities were observed in the hydrogenation of a variety of methyl (Z)-β-aryl-β-(acetylamino)acrylates in the presence of a rhodium catalyst with the chiral ligand binapine (see scheme). This bisbinaphthophosphepine ligand has stereogenic phosphorus centers and shows promise as a powerful ligand for application in the synthesis of chiral β-aryl-β-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation.