Palladium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of diarylphosphines to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes.

A highly stereoselective asymmetric 1,4-addition of diarylphosphines to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by a bis(phosphine) pincer-Pd complex has been developed for the synthesis of chiral phosphines with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 98% ee) under mild conditions. The application of the current method to the synthesis of enantiopure bisphosphine and its pincer-Pd complex has also been demonstrated.