Enantioselective Allylic Substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts Catalyzed by Chiral Bifunctional Ferrocenylphosphines

A series of air-stable chiral ferrocenylphosphines (LB1-LB4) were prepared and used in the asymmetric allylic substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts with phthalimide under mild reaction conditions; the (R,S-Fc)-ferrocenylphosphine LB4 afforded the desired amination products 3 in moderate yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The absolute configuration of 3o was confirmed by X-ray analysis.