An Ni-PyBisulidine complex for the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes.

A novel Ni-PyBisulidine complex has been developed for the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes. A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, condensed-ring, α,β-unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes are found to be suitable substrates for the reaction, and the desired α-hydroxy phosphonates are obtained in up to 99% yield and 97% ee.