Phosphoramidites based on phenyl-substituted 1,2-diols as ligands in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylations: the contribution of steric demand and chiral centers to the enantioselectivity

A small family of readily available phosphoramidite ligands, including compounds with P∗-stereocenters, has been prepared from phenyl-substituted 1,2-diols as simple and cheap starting materials. Using these ligands, up to 84% ee was achieved in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution. The influence of structural modules such as asymmetric atoms and steric demand on the enantioselectivity is discussed.