Enantioselective synthesis of P-stereogenic benzophospholanes via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization.

Enantioselective or diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization of functionalized secondary phosphines or their borane adducts catalyzed by chiral Pd(diphosphine) complexes gave P-stereogenic benzophospholanes in up to 70% ee. These results provide a new method for the synthesis of chiral phospholanes, which are valuable ligands in asymmetric catalysis. [reaction: see text]