| abstract |
The chiral phosphine ligand (R)-1,2-bis (diphenyiphosphi- no)-1-cyclohexylethane, when complexed to a transition metal such as Rh(l), functions as a superior chiral hydrogenation catalyst. The chiral phosphine ligand is more stereochemically rigid than previous compounds; consequently, virtually optically pure materials can be produced from the chiral hydrogenation of prochiral compounds using the catalyst of this invention. This catalyst is especially useful in the chiral hydrogenation of alpha-acylamido acrylic acids. |