Abstract: Bidentate phosphine-nitrogen ligands are disclosed which include a phosphine linked with a nitrogen heterocycle through a chiral ferrocene backbone. The ligands can include an imidazole or a dihydroimidazole linked to the ferrocene through the 2-position. Ligands can be prepared with or without additional chirality in the heterocycle. The ligands are useful for asymmetric catalysis, such as for palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylation and ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, affording products with high enantioselectivities.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel, substantially enantiomerically pure tetradentate ligands comprised of two phosphines and two secondary amines. These species have been used as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated good enantioselectivity, in particular as ruthenium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation. Also disclosed are methods for making the ligands, corresponding catalyst complexes, and processes employing the ligands and catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.