Enantioselectivities up to> 99% ee were achieved in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-formyl dehydroamino esters using monodentate phosphoramidites as chiral ligands. The substrates were synthesized by condensation of methyl isocyanoacetate with a range of aldehydes and with cyclohexanone. A highly convenient multigram scale one step synthesis of methyl 2-(formamido) acrylate was developed. This compound was ...