Catalytic and structural studies of Rh complexes of (−)-(2S,4S)-2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane. Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenonebenzylimine and acetophenone

Rhodium(I) complexes formed by (−)-(2S,4S)-2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane (BDPP) are efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of acetophenone and acetophenonebenzylimine. The composition of the solvent mixture and the reaction temperature have a marked influenced on the enantioselectivity. These effects are thought to be related to the enhanced conformational flexibility of six-membered rings when simple substrates without functional groups are coordinated to the rhodium. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that in [Rh((S,S)-BDPP)NBD]⁺ (1) the ligand is in a chair conformation, and that in [Rh((S,S)-BDPP)COD]⁺ (2) the chelate ring is in a δ-skew conformation. Studies of Rh((S,S)-BDPP)(NBD)Cl (3) in solution indicate a trigonal bipyramidal structure with a chair conformation of the ring in aromatic solvents and a conformationally labile ring in methanol.