Studies on the stereoselective palladium-catalysed allylic substitution reaction

This thesis contains the preparation of a new design of ligand for the palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction. The phosphine oxazoline ligands detailed in the thesis give high levels of enantiocontrol when used in conjunction with symmetrical allyl systems in the palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction. For unsymmetrical allyl systems the palladium catalysed allylic substitution process proceeds with complete regiocontrol and high levels of stereocontrol are again observed. The products from the palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction can be readily converted to succinic acids, γ-lactones and aryl propanoic acids.