The rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various β-dehydroamino acid derivatives to give optically active β-amino acids has been examined. Chiral monodentate 4, 5-dihydro-3 H-dinaphthophosphepines, which are easily tuned and accessible in a multi-10- g scale, have been used as ligands. The enantioselectivity is largely dependent on the nature of the substituent at the phosphorous atom and on the structure of the substrate. ...
