Synthesis and application of C-2-symmetric diamino FERRIPHOS as ligands for enantioselective Rh-catalyzed preparation of chiral alpha-amino acids

C-2-Symmetrical ferrocenyl diamino diphosphines (diamino FERRIPHOS ligands) proved to be excellent ligands for the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective reduction of methyl alpha-acetamidoacrylates, The straightforward synthesis , their air stability and the easy modification of their structure makes th ese ligands especially interesting for transition metal-catalyzed hydrogena tions. alpha-Amino acids with enantioselectivities greater than 95% (and up to 99.3% ee) were obtained with no need of further recrystallization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.