Palladacycle-Catalyzed Asymmetric Intermolecular Construction of Chiral Tertiary P-Heterocycles by Stepwise Addition of H–P–H Bonds to Bis(enones)

A palladacycle-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective stepwise double hydrophosphination of bis(enones) with PhPH 2 has been developed, allowing intermolecular construction of chiral tertiary bulky P-heterocycles in one pot in high yields. A catalytic cycle for the reaction is proposed as well.