Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propeny
l acetate (4) with a dimethyl malonate-BSA-LiOAc system and its derivatives
has been successfully carried out in the presence of a new chiral hydrazon
e ligands such as 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde SAMP hydrazone (DPPBA-S
AMP) (3a) in high yields with high enantioselectives.