Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters with new phenethylamine-derived tridentate P,N,N-ligands

A new class of phenethylamine-derived tridentate P,N,N-ligands has been successfully developed. These ligands exhibited good performance in the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters, affording the corresponding β-hydroxy esters in moderate to good enantioselectivities.