P-acetamidoacrylates

The rhodium complexes with hydroxyphospholane ligand 125663 or 126660 catalyze the asymmetric hydrogenation of a-acetamidoacrylates with ee values in excess of 98%. System 125 is also very effective in the asymmetric hydrogenation of P-acetamidoacrylates (up to 99.6% ee).664 The planar-chiral heterocyclic ligand 127 complexed with rhodium(I) catalyzes the hydrogenation of a-acetamidoacrylates in excellent yields and ee values from 79-96% under mild conditions.665... 

In the area of asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes, there is also a renewed interest in developing cheap, abundant, and less toxic metals. In this context, a remarkable result was recently reported with the first highly enantioselee-tive (transfer) hydrogenation of p-acetamidoacrylates using nickel catalysts, providing p-acylamido esters in excellent yields and enantioselectivities of up to 99% and 99% ee, respectively. 

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