Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of diarylphosphines to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated sulfonic esters: controlling regioselectivity by rational selection of electron-withdrawing groups.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of diarylphosphines to electron-deficient dienes was developed through rational selection of electron-withdrawing groups on the dienes. Various chiral allylic phosphine derivatives were synthesized in good yields with high enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee).