Synthesis of β-aminoacid derivatives via enantioselective hydrogenation of β-substituted-β-(acylamino)acrylates

This review presents recent advances in enantioselective hydrogenation of β-amidoacrylates by means of rhodium and ruthenium catalysis. It reveals the strong efforts, which have been devoted to the discovery of new ligands and catalysts during the last decade. Metal catalysts containing optically pure bidentate and monodentate phosphorus ligands have made possible the generation of very efficient catalytic systems for the production of β-aminoacid derivatives under mild and green conditions from a variety of (E)- and (Z)-β-aryl- and β-alkyl-(β-acylamino)acrylates.