Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of α-amino acrylonitriles: an efficient approach to synthesizing chiral α-amino nitriles.

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-amino acrylonitriles has been developed, affording α-acylamino nitriles with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and >99% ee). This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to chiral α-amino nitriles, which are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis.