Diamidophosphites with remote P*-stereocentres and their performance in Pd-catalyzed enantioselective reactions

Diamidophosphite ligands based on 1,1'-bis(hydroxymethyl)ferrocene or N-1,N-2-bis((S)-1-hydroxy-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl)oxalamide and bearing 1,3,2-diazaphospholidine rings with stereogenic phosphorus atoms were obtained. The use of these ligands provides up to 96% ee in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylations of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate, up to 70% ee in Pd-catalyzed desymmetrizations of N,N'-ditosyl-meso-cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol bis-carbamate and up to 80% ee in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations of cinnamyl acetate with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate. Results obtained with a diamidophosphite containing an oxalamide framework show the considerable potential of such ligands in enantioselective catalysis. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.