Combinatorial approach to the asymmetric hydrogenation of β-acylamino acrylates: use of mixtures of chiral monodentate P-ligands

The previously proposed concept of using mixtures of two different chiral monodentate P-ligands has been extended to the asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-acylamino acrylates with formation of chiral β-amino acid derivatives. Mixtures of BINOL-derived phosphites and phosphonites are particularly effective (ee=94–99% for five different substrates).