The use of chiral phosphinites in asymmetric chemistry. 3. Enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids catalyzed by Ru3(CO)12 and glucophinite, idophinite, and camphinite

Five α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids were reduced with hydrogen in the presence of dodecacarbonyltriuthenium and three different chiral phosphinites. The reaction was investigated in three different solvents and at several pressures and temperatures. The best results were obtained in THF at 125 °C with 40 atm of hydrogen pressure.