Dynamic asymmetric catalysis by diphenylphosphinoferrocene (DPPF)-nickel complexes through control of axial chirality by chiral diamines.

[reaction: see text] The enantio- and diastereomerically pure metal complexes of a chirally dynamic diphenylphosphinoferrocene (DPPF) ligand are obtained through coordination of enantiopure diaminobinaphthyl (DABN) to control the axial chirality of DPPF-Pt, -Pd, and -Ni complexes. The DPPF-Ni catalyst with DABN affords higher enantioselectivity and catalytic efficiency than those attained by the Pd or Pt counterparts and [Ni[(R)-dabn]](SbF(6))(2) without DPPF ligand.