The preparation of new phosphinamine ligands 3a, 3b, possessing an enantiopure trans-2, 5-dialkylpyrrolidinyl unit is described. Of the three synthetic approaches investigated, two proved successful with similar overall yields of 50–60%. One approach forms the trans-2, 5- dialkylpyrrolidine unit first and then the diphenylphosphine is introduced whilst the other reverses the order of introduction. In each approach the key step is the cyclocondensation ...
