Asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by a rhodium complex with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand

Abstract The asymmetric hydrogenation of ( E )-α,β-bis( N -acylamino)acrylates was promoted by a rhodium complex bearing a trans -chelating chiral diphosphine ligand ( R , R )-( S , S )-PrTRAP, providing the corresponding optically active (2 S ,3 R )-2,3-bis( N -acylamino)carboxylates with 79–82% ee. The 2,3-bis( N -acylamino)carboxylates isolated were readily hydrolyzed under acid to afford (2 S ,3 R )-2,3-diaminocarboxylic acids in 95% yield without epimerization.