First optically active P*-chiral phosphapalladacycle

The first cyclopalladated complex containing an asymmetric P*-donor atom in the phosphapalladacycle has been prepared in an enantiomerically pure stat e via resolution of diastereomeric (S)-prolinate derivatives of the racemic dimer. The absolute configuration of the P*-stereocenter (S-P) and the geo metric configuration of the palladium environment (Z) were determined by an X-ray diffraction investigation of the less soluble diastereomer of the (S )-prolinate adduct. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.