Phosphinooxazolines--a new class of versatile, modular P,N-ligands for asymmetric catalysis.

Chiral phosphinooxazolines (PHOX ligands), which coordinate to a metal center with a N- and a P-atom, allow effective enantiocontrol in a variety of metal-catalyzed reactions. They are readily synthesized, and because of their modular structure, the steric and electronic properties can be tailored for a specific application by variation of the oxazoline ring, the backbone, and the phosphine moiety.