The first asymmetric phospha-Michael addition of diarylphosphines to N-enoyl phthalimides has been developed in the presence of a chiral palladacycle catalyst. A library of free chiral tertiary phosphine adducts were directly obtained with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Products can be subsequently functionalized to afford β-phosphinoamides, the direct preparation of which from cinnamides has been notoriously challenging.
Keywords: Michael addition; asymmetric catalysis; hydrophosphination; imides; palladacycles; phosphines.
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