Electronic Effects in Asymmetric Catalysis: Hydroformylation of Olefins.

Abstract Highly tunable carbohydrate vicinal diphosphinites are viable ligands for the Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of olefins. Substitution of electron-withdrawing aryl groups at phosphorus in these diphosphinites increases the enantioselectivity of the hydroformylation process. Very high branched to linear ratios of product aldehydes (94%) were obtained. Thus far only moderate enantioselectivity (up to 72%) has been achieved.