Highly efficient RhI-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-amino acrylonitriles
(Figure Presented) It takes two to TangPhos: β-Amino acrylonitriles can be readily prepared from acetonitriles. Both of the E/Z isomers undergo hydrogenation with excellent enantioselectivity by using the Rh-TangPhos (TangPhos = l, 1'-ditert-butyl-(2, 2')-diphospholane) catalyst system. The products, chiral β-amino nitriles, are valuable chiral building blocks for many drugs.