Synthesis of novel diphosphines from D-(+)-glucose.: Use in asymmetric hydrogenation

A new family of bidentate diphosphine ligands which contain a glucofuranoside as a simple but highly effective chiral backbone are reported. These ligands are prepared in a few steps from readily available D-(+)-glucose. These new ligands have been applied to the rhodium-catalysed hydrogenation of cl,p-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives under very mild reaction conditions, with enantiomeric excesses of up to 98%. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. An rights reserved.