2-(Phosphinoaryl)pyridine ligand (2): Asymmetric allylic alkylation of 2-cycloalkenyl carboxylate

Palladium complex of 2-(phosphinoaryl)pyridine 1b, which is an effective catalyst for asymmetric allylic alkylation (denoted as AAA) of acyclic alkenyl carboxylate, was also found to be a highly effective catalyst for AAA of cyclic alkenyl carboxylate: high enantioselectivities of 87% ee and 94% ee were achieved in the reactions of 2-cyclohexenyl and 2-cycloheptenyl pivalates, respectively.