Chiral phosphite–phosphoroamidites: a new class of ligand for asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation

A series of novel phosphite–phosphoroamidite ligands, derived from readily available D-xylose, has been used for the first time in the asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of a series of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivity (ee up to >99%).