Preparation of (R)-N,N-Dimethyl-1-[2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-2-propanamines and Asymmetric Grignard Cross-coupling Catalyzed by Nickel Complexes with the Phosphine Ligands

A pair of diastereoisomeric phosphines, (R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-[2-(diphenylphosphino) ferrocenyl]-2-propanamines, have been prepared and used as ligands for nickel-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling of 1-phenylethylmagnesium chloride with vinyl bromide to give 3-phenyl-1-butene of 14–15% enantiomeric excess.