Bulky, optically active P-stereogenic phosphine-boranes from pure H-menthylphosphinates

The transformation of readily available pure-H-menthylphosphinates into chiral phosphinous acid-boranes permits the elaboration of bulky P-stereogenic secondary phosphine-boranes. Taking advantage of the synthetic potential of these compounds, a broad range of hindered P-chiral tertiary phosphine-boranes has been prepared with excellent enantiomeric excesses. The utility of bulky o-tolylphosphines was illustrated by the synthesis of a rare enantiopure phosphapalladacycle (S(P),S(P))-12.