Phanephos is an organophosphorus compound with the chemical formula (C2H4)2(C6H3PPh2)2 (Ph = C6H5). It is a white solid that is soluble in organic solvents. It is an example of a chiral C2-symmetricdiphosphine ligand used in asymmetric hydrogenation. Many substituents have been introduced in place of the phenyl groups, e.g., i-Pr, C6H11, etc. and a variety of chiral diphosphine ligands have been reported in asymmetric catalysis since the 1960s.
Phanephos has been used in rhodium- and ruthenium- mediated stereoselective hydrogenation of dehydro amino acid methyl esters and asymmetric reduction of various β-ketoesters with about 90% ee.[2]
References
^G. J. Rowlands, Planar Chiral Phosphines Derived from [2.2]Paracyclophane , Israel Journal of Chemistry, 2012, 52. 60-75, doi:10.1002/ijch.201100098
^R. Gleiter, H. Hopf, Modern Cyclophane Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2005, p.449-451 doi:10.1002/3527603964