Asymmetric synthesis of P-stereogenic diarylphosphinites by palladium-catalyzed enantioselective addition of diarylphosphines to benzoquinones.

The reaction of phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phosphine with a substituted benzoquinone in the presence of a chiral phosphapalladacycle complex as a catalyst and triethylamine in chloroform at -45 °C proceeded in a new type of addition manner to give a high yield of a 4-hydroxyphenyl phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phosphinite with 98% enantioselectivity, which is a versatile intermediate readily convertible into various phosphines and their derivatives with high enantiomeric purity.