Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric chlorination of ß-keto esters in the presence of chiral phosphine-Schiff base type ligands.

Chiral phosphine-Schiff base type ligand L8 prepared from (R)-(-)-2-(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2'-amine was found to be a fairly effective ligand for Cu(I)-promoted enantioselective chlorination of ß-keto esters to give the corresponding products in high yields and with moderate enantioselectivities.

Phosphine-catalyzed annulation of ethyl (arylimino)acetates: synthesis of highly functionalized oxoimidazolidines.

This paper describes an unexpected and novel nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed annulation of ethyl (arylimino)acetates to give polysubstituted oxoimidazolidine derivatives in moderate to good yields from simple and easily available starting materials under mild conditions. In this reaction, the addition of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) is essential to induce the formation of oxoimidazolidines.