Catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphinylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles: application of dialkyl phosphine oxides in enantioselective synthesis of chiral phosphine oxides or phosphines.

Dialkyl phosphine oxides were introduced in catalytic asymmetric transformations for the first time. An unprecedented phospha-Michael reaction of dialkyl phosphine oxide with alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles was disclosed. Excellent enantioselectivities (94-->99% ee) and chemical yields (up to 99%) were achieved with a broad substrate scope of the N-acylpyrroles. Importantly, pyridine was found to be critical to achieve good results for the present reaction.