Chiral diphosphinites derived from 2,2-biphosphole as a new class of stereodynamic ligands for enantioselective hydrogenation.

New stereodynamic diphosphinites derived from 2,2'-biphosphole, were synthesised by introduction of a linker obtained from chiral diols between the two phosphorus atoms and used for catalytic hydrogenation through a dual chirality control induced by Rh-coordination. The application of these ligands in hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate shows that the enantioselectivity strongly depends on steric and electronic properties of the chiral linker whereas the sense of enantioselection is determined by the configuration of these stereocentres. These stereodynamic diphosphinites induce higher enantioselectivities than the analogous stereodynamic diphosphanes derived from 2,2-biphosphole.