Asymmetric synthesis of enaminophosphines via palladacycle-catalyzed addition of Ph2PH to α,β-unsaturated imines

Abstract

A highly reactive, chemo- and enantioselective addition of diphenylphosphine to α,β-unsaturated imines catalyzed by a palladacycle has been developed, thus providing the access to a series of chiral tertiary enaminophosphines in high yields. A putative catalytic cycle has also been proposed.