Rhodium-chiral phosphine complex catalyzed homogeneous hydrogenations of methyl (Z)-and (E)-2-acetamido-4-methoxybut-2-enoates ((ZJS)-10), methyl (Z)-and (E)-2-acetamidohex-2-enoates (,{ ß)-16A) and methyl (Z)-and (E)-2-acetamido-4-methylpent-2-enoates ((ZJE)-16B) are reported. With phosphines in which two achiral phosphorus atoms are connected by a chiral four-carbon unit, higher product enantiomeric excesses (ee's) are obtained from E than from Z substrates. With phosphines in which a two-carbon chiral unit separates two achiral phosphorus atoms, Z substrates are preferred. With dipamp (28), both Z and E substrates (particularly (ZJ5)-16A) are reduced with high enantioselectivity. The additional oxygen atom in substrates (Z,£)-10 has little effect on product ee with most phosphines.