Methodologies in Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric hydrogenation has been demonstrated to be a useful synthetic approach to amino acids and derivatives. The asymmetric reduction step itself is usually straightforward, but the synthesis of the ligand that invokes the asymmetric induction can be difficult. Use of MonoPhos™, a phosphoramidite, allows for a low cost solution as it is derived in a single step from BINOL, an item of commerce available as either antipode. Rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations proceed with high enantioselectivities, especially to substituted phenylalanine derivatives. A large solvent effect is observed