Platinum-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of secondary phosphines: enantioselective synthesis of p-stereogenic phosphines.

The chiral Pt catalyst precursor Pt((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(Cl) mediated alkylation of racemic secondary phosphines PHR(R') with benzyl halides in the presence of base to give enantioenriched tertiary phosphines PR(R')(CH2Ar). Similar reactions of bis(secondary) phosphines yielded chiral diphosphines in up to 93% ee and with good rac/meso diastereoselection.