Timothy A. Ayers

Electronic effects in asymmetric catalysis: Hydroformylation of olefins

Abstract Highly tunable carbohydrate vicinal diphosphinites are viable ligands for the Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of olefins. Substitution of electron-withdrawing aryl groups at phosphorus in these diphosphinites increases the enantioselectivity of the hydroformylation process. Very high branched to linear ratios of product aldehydes (94%) were obtained. Thus far only moderate enantioselectivity (up to 72%) has been achieved.

New methods for the selective reduction of disubstituted malonates to the corresponding hydroxy-ester derivatives

Abstract The reduction of alkylphenylmalonates and dialkylmalonates with LiAl(O- t -Bu) 3 H proceeds with selective reduction of one of the ester functionalities to provide the hydroxy-ester derivatives in good yields.