A new chiral ferrocenylphosphine ligand with C 2 symmetry: prepration and use for palladium-catalysed asymmetric cross-coupling

A new chiral ferrocenylphosphine ligand, which has C2-symmetric structure and a functional group on the side chain, was prepared by ortho-lithiation and phosphination of 1,1′-bis[1-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl]ferrocene followed by optical resolution of the ditartrate salts and was found to be effective for palladium-catalysed asymmetric cross-coupling of 1-phenylethylzinc chloride with vinyl bromide giving 3-phenylbut-1-ene of over 90% e.e.