Organocatalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination of nitroalkenes

The first direct asymmetric hydrophosphination (AHP) of nitroalkenes has been accomplished. The use of bifunctional cinchona alkaloid catalyst has provided an useful organocatalytic route to optically active β-nitro phosphines (up to 99% ee after crystallization). This organocatalytic AHP approach, providing a direct route to a new class of potentially useful enantiopure P,N-ligands, constitutes a bridge between the two complementary areas of asymmetric catalysis: organo- and metal-catalysed transformations