Chiral 1,4-bis-diphosphine ligands from optically active (Z)-olefines

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones was carried out with Ru(II) complexes prepared from new chiral diphosphine ligands, cis-(R,R)-2,5-bis[(diarylphosphino)]-3-hexenes. These new ligands were prepared from enantiomerically pure (R,R) or (S,S)-(Z)-3-hexene-2,5 diol and enantiomeric excesses up to 85% were obtained in the reduction of 2-benzamidomethyl-3-oxobutanoate, starting material for the synthesis of 4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone.