Enantioselective hydrophosphinylation of 1-alkenylphosphine oxides catalyzed by chiral strong Brønsted base

A catalytic enantioselective addition of diarylphosphine oxides to 1-alkenyl(diaryl)phosphine oxides was achieved by using a chiral ureate as a chiral strong Brønsted base catalyst. The reaction followed by the reduction of phosphine oxide moieties provided chiral 1,2-diphosphinoalkanes, which are a family of useful chiral ligands for asymmetric transition metal catalysis. A chiral ureate as a chiral strong Brønsted base catalyst enabled an efficient synthesis of chiral 1,2-diphosphinoalkane derivatives through a catalytic enantioselective hydrophosphinylation of 1-alkenylphosphine oxides.