Chiral 5-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines: new N,P-ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Three chiral 5-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines, as first representative examples of a new class of chiral N,P-ligands were prepared from (+)-nopinone, (+)-camphor and 5α-androst-2-en-17-one. These ligands have been assessed in the enantioselective palladium-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. Enantioselectivity up to 74% has been obtained.