Phosphinites derived from the 7-phosphanorbornene skeleton: first results in asymmetric catalysis

[structure: see text] The bisphosphinite 4 incorporating two 7-phosphanorbornene subunits is an efficient ligand for the Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of functional alkenes in terms of rate and enantioselectivity. This type of structures is readily accessible by [4 + 2] cycloaddition of phospholes with dienophilic alkenes and can be easily fine-tuned.