Modification of optically active ferrocenylphosphine ligands for palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

Optically active ferrocenylphosphines containing a functional group on the side chain were effective as ligands for the palladium—catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-disubstituted allyl acetates such as l,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxy-l-propene with sodium acetylacetonate and related soft carbon nucleophiles to give the alkylation products of up to 92% ee.