Air-stable P-stereogenic secondary phosphine oxides as chiral monodentate ligands for asymmetric catalytic carbon-carbon bond formation

P-Stereogenic secondary phosphine oxides are configurationally stable in the presence of metal ions both in solution and in the solid state. They have the potential to serve as chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands for asymmetric catalysis. In the asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate, ca. 80% ee was achieved using (R-p)-tert-butylphenylphosphine oxide. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.