Efficient catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-substituted phenyloxyacetyloxy and aroyloxy phosphonates

Optically active α-substituted phenyloxyacetyloxy and aroyloxy phosphonates have been synthesized via catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding prochiral α,β-unsaturated phosphonates using Rh(I)/( R , R )-Me-DuPhos as the catalyst in methanol at 18 °C. The asymmetric hydrogenation reaction exhibits excellent enantioselectivity with enantiomeric excesses from 91 to 96%.