enantioselectivity and the activity of the rhodium complex catalysts. Their rhodium complexes are much more effective than those of BPPM and (2S,4S)-N-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyrrolidine (BCPM) for the asymmetrichydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate. The hydrogenation has also been used successfully in an efficient asymmetric synthesis of the key intermediate of new