Asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-2-acetamido-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate catalyzed by Rh complexes with available amidophosphite ligands

Abstract

A convenient express procedure for the preparation of methyl (Z)-2-acetamido-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate was developed. Asymmetric hydrogenation of this substrate in the presence of rhodium catalysts involving synthetically available amidophosphite ligands was carried out, which is characterized by high enantioselectivity (to 99.5% ee) and complete conversion. An approach to the selective formation of cationic complexes containing two ligands of different nature in one coordination sphere of rhodium was suggested.