Enantioselective preparation of 2,4-disubstituted azetidines

Chiral C-2-symmetric N-benzylazetidines have been conveniently prepared fro m optically pure anti-1,3-diols without loss of enantiomeric purity. N-Debe nzylation led to the corresponding N-unsubstituted azetidines, which were t hen subjected to palladium-catalysed coupling reactions with aryl bromides to afford chiral N-arylazetidines. (R,R)-N-Benzyl-2,4-dimethylazetidine has been employed in the synthesis of a new cyclopalladated complex, which can be used, for instance, as a chiral recognition agent for phosphorus Ligand s.