Palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution of non-derivatized enantioenriched allylic alcohols with a variety of uncharged N-, S-, C- and O-centered nucleophiles using a bidentate BiPhePhos ligand is described. A remarkable effect of the counter ion (X) of the XPd[kappa(2)-BiPhePhos][kappa(3)-C3H5] was observed. When ClPd[kappa(2)-BiPhePhos][eta(3)-C3H5] (complexI) was used as catalyst, non-reproducible results were obtained. Study of the complex by X-ray crystallography, (PNMR)-P-31 spectroscopy, and ESI-MS showed that a decomposition occurred where one of the phosphite ligands was oxidized to the corresponding phosphate, generating ClPd[kappa(1)-BiPhePhosphite-phosphate][eta(3)-C3H5] species (complexII). When the chloride was exchanged to the weaker coordinating OTf- counter ion the more stable Pd[kappa(2)-BiPhePhos][eta(3)-C3H5](+)+[OTf] (-) (complexIII) was formed. ComplexIII performed better and gave higher enantiospecificities in the substitution reactions. ComplexIII was evaluated in Tsuji-Trost reactions of stereogenic non-derivatized allylic alcohols. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields (71-98%) and enantiospecificities (73-99%) for both inter- and intramolecular substitution reactions with only water generated as a by-product. The methodology was applied to key steps in total synthesis of (S)-cuspareine and (+)-lentiginosine. A reaction mechanism involving a palladium hydride as a key intermediate in the activation of the hydroxyl group is proposed in the overall transformation.