A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (Me-BIPAM) for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate

High performance of Me-BIPAM for enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate was demonstrated. [Rh(Me-BIPAM)(diene)]X (diene = cod, nbd; X = BF4, PF6, SbF6) gave optically active β-aryl α-amino esters up to 99% ee, 1-arylethylamines up to 97% ee, methyl 2-acetylaminobutanoate with 90% ee, and dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 97% ee under 0.3−0.8 MPa dihydrogen with 0.1−1 mol % catalyst loading.