PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ENANTIOMERICALLY ENRICHED COMPOUNDS

Process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched compounds of formula Ar-C(R1)-C(R2)-Z wherein Ar represents an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group R1 and R2, each independently, represent H, an alkyl, (hetero)aryl, dialkylamino, amido, thioether, alkoxy or aryloxy group with the proviso that not both R1 and R2 represent H, or R1 and R2 form together with the C-atoms to which they are bound a (hetero)alkyl or (hetero)alkenyl ring and Z represents an electron withdrawing group, in which process a boronic acid derivate of formula Ar-B(OR3)OR4 or its anhydride, wherein R3 and R4, each independently, represent H or an alkyl group, is reacted with an olefinic unsaturated compound of formula R2-C-C-(R1)Z in the presence of a transition metal catalyst comprising a transition metal chosen from Cu and group VIII and an enantiomerically enriched ligand L, having formula (I) where Cn together with the two O-atoms and the P-atom forms a substituted or nonsubstituted ring with 2-6 C-atoms, R5 and R6 each independently represent H, an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group, or the group of formula (II) wherein Cn1 may have the same meanings as given for Cn and B represents a bridging group, or R5 and R6 may form a heterocyclic ring together with the N-atom to which they are bound.