Evaluation of disaccharide-based ligands for Pd(0)-catalyzed asymmetric allylations

A series of phosphines based on disaccharides containing a d-glucosamine framework were prepared and tested for their abilities as ligands for the palladium(0)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic allylation of racemic 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with various nucleophiles. In contrast to previous results exploiting monosaccharides, the iminophosphines generally afforded higher enantiomeric excesses, up to 99%.