Efficient Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation for the Synthesis of a New Class of N-Aryl β-Amino Acid Derivatives

N-Aryl β-amino esters were obtained by asymmetric hydrogenation of a new class of N-aryl β-enamino esters. High conversions and up to 96.3% ee values were achieved with a Rh-TangPhos catalyst.