The reaction of functionalized diorganozincs with chlorodiorganophosph
ines provides polyfunctional phosphines in good yields. Especially att
ractive is the hydroboration/boron-zinc exchange sequence which allows
the conversion of functionalized olefins into polyfunctional phosphin
es in a one-pot procedure. Several new chiral phosphines have been pre
pared starting from readily available chiral olefins (terpenes) and th
eir efficiency in asymmetric hydrogenation reactions has been evaluate
d. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.