Enantioselective phospha-Michael addition of diarylphosphines to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and amides.

An enantioselective hydrophosphination of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and amides has been developed using a chiral palladacycle catalyst. Adducts can be obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities, providing direct access to chiral tertiary phosphines which are synthetically useful intermediates in the preparation of bidentate ligands.