Nickel(0)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrocyanation of 1,3-dienes

1,2-Bis-diarylphosphinites are excellent ligands for the Ni(0)-catalyzed hydrocyanation of certain types of 1,3-dienes. 1-Phenyl-1,3-butadiene,1-vinyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene, and 1-vinylindene undergo highly regioselective hydrocyanation under ambient conditions to give exclusively the 1,2-adducts in good to excellent yields. Using bis-1,2-diarylphosphinites derived from D-glucose, the highest enantioselectivities to-date for asymmetric hydrocyanation of 1,3-dienes (70-83% ee's) have been obtained.