Asymmetric synthesis of chiral glutaric acid derivatives via Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

The first Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of dimethyl 2-methyleneglutarate and its derivatives has been reported. For the hydrogenation of dimethyl 2-methyleneglutarate with a chiral ferrocene-based monodentate phosphoramidite ligand (FAPhos), good enantioselectivity (over 90% ee) with full conversions was achieved. In contrast, the hydrogenation of substrates bearing an aryl substituent at a methylene moiety proved to be more difficult, in which the best enantioselectivity of up to 81% ee was obtained by the use of a P-stereogenic BoPhoz-type ligand.