Amido- and aminophosphites and hydrospirophosphoranes can be used as ligands in the Pd-catalyzed allylation of ethyl malonate with ethyl (3-phenylprop-2-enyl) carbonate. Bidentate ligands (RO)(2)P-O(CH2)(n)-NR ' (2) (n = 2 and 3) were found to be the most effective ligands.