Derivatives of para- and meta-phenylene bis-alanine and related biphen
yl systems, carrying four orthogonal protecting groups, were synthesis
ed via combinations of Heck couplings and asymmetric hydrogenations, T
he intermediate unsaturated arylalanine derivatives were hydrogenated
using [Rh(COD)((R,R)-DIPAMP)]+BF4- or [Rh(COD)(Me-DuPHOS)]X-+(-) as ca
talysts to produce the optically active, protected amino acid derivati
ves in greater than or equal to 98% e.e. as analysed by chiral phase H
PLC. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.