Synthesis of a New Water-Soluble C2-Symmetric Chiral Diamine: Preliminary Investigation of Its Catalytic Properties for Asymmetric Hydrogenation under Biphasic Conditions

A water-soluble version of N,N'-dimethyl-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine was prepared by introduction of phosphonic acid moieties on the para position of the aromatic rings. Preliminary investigation of the catalytic properties of the iridium complex of this ligand under biphasic conditions showed that this system compared well with the homogeneous counterpart for the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones but with noticeably higher reaction rates for the biphasic system.