Triple C-H activation of 1,5-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)-2-(S)-dimethylaminopentane on ruthenium gives a chiral carbene complex.

This communication reports the preparation of a novel trans-chelating diphosphine, 1,5-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)-2-(S)-dimethylaminopentane, that undergoes triple C-H activation in reaction with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 to give a chiral square-pyramidal 16-electron carbene complex of ruthenium.