2, 2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1, 1'-binaphthyl(binap) : A new atropisomeric bis(triaryl)phosphine. synthesis and its use in the rh(l)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-(acylamino)acrylic acids

Racemic 2, 2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l, 1'-binaphthyl has been synthesized from 2, 2'-dihydroxy-l, l'-binaphthyl in two steps and resolved into optically pure (R)-(+) and (S) (-) enantiomers by the use of (+)-di-μ-chlorobis(S)-N,N-dimethyl-α-phenylethylamine-2C,N]dipalladium. This new axially dissymmetric bis(triaryl)phosphine serves as an excellent ligand for Rh(l)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of α-(acylamino) acrylic acids or esters. Factors controlling the enantioselectivity and mechanistic aspects are discussed on the basis of the ³¹P-NMR measurements