First enantioselective allylic etherification with phenols catalyzed by chiral ruthenium bisoxazoline complexes.

Regio- and enantioselective substitution of cinnamyl chloride by phenols has been achieved with up to 82% enantiomeric excess, using a ruthenium catalyst prepared from [Cp*(CH(3)CN)(3)Ru][PF(6)] and a chiral bisoxazoline ligand.