Four chiral diphosphine ligands consisting of bis(2,5-diphenylphospholan-1-yl) groups connected by the sp(2) carbon linkers 2,3-quinoxaline ((S,S)-Ph-Quinox), 2,3-pyrazine ((S,S)-Ph-Pyrazine), maleic anhydride ((S,S)-Ph-MalPhos), and 1,1'-ferrocene ((S,S)-Ph-5-Fc) were synthesized, and their cationic [rhodium(I)(COD)] complexes were prepared. These complexes were tested in asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins. [((S,S)-Ph-Quinox)Rh(COD)]BF4 showed high activity and selectivity against itaconate and dehydroamino acid substrates. The corresponding (S,S)-Ph-Pyrazine and (S,S)-Ph-MalPhos complexes exhibited lower activities and selectivities. [((S,S)-Ph-5-Fc)Rh(COD)]BF4 showed high activity with low selectivity for these substrates, but high activity and selectivity against 2-C-substituted cinnamate salts, whereas rhodium complexes of (S,S)-Ph-Quinox and (R,R)-Ph-BPE showed low activity and selectivity against 2-C-substituted cinnamate salts.
