Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrophosphinylation of α,β-Unsaturated <i>N</i>-Acylpyrroles: Application of Dialkyl Phosphine Oxides in Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Phosphine Oxides or Phosphines

Dialkyl phosphine oxides were introduced in catalytic asymmetric transformations for the first time. An unprecedented phospha-Michael reaction of dialkyl phosphine oxide with α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles was disclosed. Excellent enantioselectivities (94→99% ee) and chemical yields (up to 99%) were achieved with a broad substrate scope of the N-acylpyrroles. Importantly, pyridine was found to be critical to achieve good results for the present reaction.