Enantioselective synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-3-hydroxycarboxylates by rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation

The highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-3-hydroxycarboxylates has been achieved by hydrogenating 2,2-difluoro-3-oxocarboxylates in the presence of chiral rhodium-(amidephosphine-phosphinite) complexes. Ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate can be successfully transformed into the enantiomerically enriched 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutanoate in the same manner.