Palladium-catalyzed alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dime
thyl malonate occurred in water in the presence of surfactants, using K2CO3
as the base. Enantioselectivities of up to 92% were obtained using chiral
atropoisomeric diphosphines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese
rved.