New chiral phosphine ligands containing (η6-arene)chromium and catalytic asymmetric cross-coupling reactions

New chiral monophosphine ligands 2–4 containing (η6-arene)chromium were prepared via the stereoselective ortho-lithiation of ((R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-phenylethylamine)-Cr(CO)3 (1). Asymmetric cross-coupling of 1-phenylethylmagnesium or -zinc reagent with vinyl bromides in the presence of palladium or nickel catalysts complexed with the chiral (ν6-arene)chromium ligands gave the coupling products of up to 61% ee.