The cis,cis,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane/[PdCl
(C3H5)](2) system catalyses allylic amination in water with very high subst
rate/catalyst ratio in good yields. A turnover number of 980 000 can be obt
ained for the addition of dipropylamine to allyl acetate in the presence of
this catalyst. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.