Dihydroboronium derivatives of (S,S)-1,2-bis(t-butylmethylphosphino)ethane as convenient chiral ligand precursors

Dihydroboronium derivatives of (S,S)-1,2-bis(t-butylmethylphosphino)ethane (t-Bu-BisP*) were prepared and used as chiral diphosphine ligand precursors in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-acetamidocinnamate to afford the hydrogenation product in up to 94% enantioselectivity.