Olefin Hydrogenation with Rigid Mono‐<i>P</i>‐stereogenic Diphosphines: A Flexible Rhodium Ring to Rule Them All?

Abstract

Abstract The preparation of a rigid C 1 ‐symmetric P ‐stereogenic diphosphine series possessing a P ‐ o ‐diphenylphosphinophenyl moiety and its use in Rh I ‐catalyzed hydrogenation of benchmark olefins, is presented. This simplified ligand design, wherein some specific features (backbone flexibility, identical nature of P , P ′‐substituents) of related C 2 ‐symmetric ethylene‐bridged diphosphines were knocked out, is a useful study‐tool with which to better understand the role of essential motifs that guide catalysis in the original model.