Asymmetric hydrogenation of maleic acid diesters and anhydrides

Asymmetric hydrogenation of maleic and fumaric acid derivatives with iridium catalysts based on N,P ligands provides an efficient route to chiral enantioenriched succinates. A new catalyst derived from a 2,6-difluorophenyl-substituted pyridine-phosphinite ligand was developed and enables the conversion of a wide range of 2-alkyl and 2-arylmaleic acid diesters into the corresponding succinates in high enantiomeric purity. Mixtures of cis/trans substrates can be hydrogenated in an enantioconvergent fashion with high enantioselectivity, and further enhances the scope of this transformation. The products are valuable chiral building blocks with a structural motif found in many bioactive compounds, such as metalloproteinase inhibitors.