Efficient Ni/(S,S)-Ph-BPE-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated phosphine oxides/phosphonates/phosphoric acids has been successfully developed, and a wide range of chiral α-substituted phosphines hydrogenation products were obtained in generally high yields with excellent enantioselective control (92%–99% yields, 84%−>99% ee). This method features a cheap transition metal nickel catalytic system, high functional group tolerance, wide substrate scope generality, and excellent enantioselectivity. A plausible catalytic cycle was proposed for this asymmetric hydrogenation according to the results of deuterium-labeling experiments.

Phosphonates and derivatives with α-chiral center are of great importance, and have been widely distributed in many natural products, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals with various bioactive features. In the past decades, great effort has been made toward the development of efficient synthetic methods. In this Minireview, recent advances in asymmetric catalytic synthesis of phosphonates with α-chiral center are summarized, including asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated phosphonates, asymmetric addition of phosphonates to unsaturated electrophiles, and asymmetric addition of nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated phosphonates. In addition, continuous development of enantioselective catalytic synthetic methods and the application of phosphonates and derivatives with α-chiral center is prospected in the future.