Recent advances in the application of chiral phosphine ligands in Pd-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation.

One of the most powerful approaches for the formation of simple and complex chiral molecules is the metal-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation. This reaction has been broadly studied with a great variety of substrates and nucleophiles under different reaction conditions and it has promoted the synthesis of new chiral ligands to be evaluated as asymmetric inductors. Although the mechanism as well as the active species equilibria are known, the performance of the catalytic system depends on the fine tuning of factors such as type of substrate, nucleophile nature, reaction medium, catalytic precursor and type of ligand used. Particularly interesting are chiral phosphines which have proved to be effective asymmetric inductors in several such reactions. The present review covers the application of phosphine-donor ligands in Pd-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation in the last decade.

1. Introduction

During the last decades, transition-<span class="Chemical">metal catalysed reactions have played an important role in asymmetric organic synthesis by providing easy, selective, doable and environmentally friendly processes to produce a wide variety of organic products [1,2]. Among these, transformations resulting in the enantioselective formation of C-C bonds are particularly useful in the synthesis of complex molecules of biological and industrial interest. These processes include the recently Nobel awarded Mizoroki-Heck, Suzuki-Miyaura and Negishi cross-coupling reactions [3,4]. Asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) results also in C-C bond formation with the added value of furnishing optically active products [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Differing from cross-coupling reactions, AAA generates stereogenic centres by controlling the attack of the nucleophile to a <span class="Chemical">metal-coordinated allylic substrate.

The mechanism of the <papan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">spanpan> class="Chemical">palln class="Disease">adiumn>-catalysed allylic alkylation reaction involves coordination of the allylic electrophile substrate to a low-valent <spn>an class="Chemical">metal centre followed by an oxidative addition to generate a cationic η3-allyl complex with the leaving group as counterion. Subsequently, attack of “soft” nucleophiles takes place on the terminal carbons of the allylic ligand at the opposite face to which the <span class="Chemical">metal is bound, with concomitant reductive elimination. Alternatively, the less common “hard” nucleophiles, bind to the metal and then attack the allylic moiety. Dissociation of the resultant olefin complex regenerates the starting catalyst (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1

Representative catalytic cycle of palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reaction.

Representative catalytic cycle of <span class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reaction.

Even class="Chemical">rpan>y step pn class="Chemical">rovides an oppon class="Chemical">rtunity for enantioselection depending on the experimental conditions, except for the olefin dissociation step, since the new carbon-carbon bond has already been formed. When racemic or prochiral substrates with identical substituents at the terminal allylic carbons are employed (rac-1, Scheme 2), the enantioselectivity depends on the regioselectivity of the nucleophilic attack. Moreover, regioselectivity can be controlled by the chiral ligand attached to the metal centre through stabilisation of the resultant olefin complex after the nucleophilic attack at either of the terminal allylic carbons. When a η3-allylmetal complex undergoes isomerisation by π−σ−π interconversions, several isomers can be formed, commonly M- and W-type isomers. Therefore, the enantioselectivity will depend on both isomer concentrations and relative rates of nucleophilic attack to each terminal allylic carbon of the isomers present in the reaction. Since many factors influence these reaction rates, a thorough control of the process is difficult. Notwithstanding, a wide variety of chiral ligands have been successfully employed, as was first demonstrated by Trost in 1977 [12]. Ever since, many catalytic systems have been proved and new chiral ligands have been specifically designed to achieve better activities and stereoselectivities. The most commonly used ligands contain phosphorous, nitrogen, sulfur or a combination of two or even three donor atoms [5,6,11,13,14,15,16].

Scheme 2

Pd- catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of common substrates.

n class="Chemical">Pd- catalysed asymmetn class="Chemical">ric allylic alkylation of common substn class="Chemical">rates.

Many tpapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">ranpan>sition <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">metals can be used in the catalysed AAA (Pd, Ni, Pt, Mo, W, Rh, Ir, Ru, Cu, Fe) [2], but due to its notable efficacy, Pd is on top of the list. Additionally, this versatile reaction has been carried out with a wide variety of substrates, nucleophiles and leaving groups. The required allylic substrates contain mainly acetoxy as leaving group, although <spn>an class="Chemical">carbonates, halogens and o-silyl groups have been used with less success. The anionic nucleophile is made to react as its sodium salt or generated in situ with K2CO3, <span class="Chemical">Cs2CO3, KOtBu, N,O-bis(trimethylsillyl)-acetamide (BSA), and the recently reported ZnEt2. The benchmark substrates and the nucleophile commonly studied in the AAA are shown in Scheme 2. Trost alkylation conditions (i.e. N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA), KOAc in catalytic amount and [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2) are considered as default conditions unless otherwise stated. Other reaction conditions such as temperature, nature of the palladium precursor, or substrate and nucleophile will be defined in the text when necessary.

In the ppapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">resenpan>t n class="Chemical">review, we pn class="Chemical">rovide an overview of the asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with a main focus on <span class="Chemical">phosphine ligands in combination with <span class="Chemical">palladium precursors and stabilized nucleophiles for the enantioselective formation of C-C bonds covering the last decade.

2. Monophosphine Ligands

Since Tpapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">rost anpan>d co-won class="Chemical">rken class="Chemical">rs discovered the tremendous application of diphosphine ligands in AAA, many bidentate ligands have been designed as a main source of chiral induction. In contrast, monophosphine ligands have been developed that overcome activities and selectivities that otherwise are impossible to achieve with robust diphosphine ligands. Monophosphines can be classified in terms of their chirality: (i) central chirality on carbon or phosphorous atoms; (ii) biaryl axial chirality; and (iii) planar chirality.

2.1. Monophosphines with central chirality

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Monophosphinen> ligands with chirality centred on the <spn>an class="Chemical">phosphorous and/or on <span class="Chemical">carbon atoms have been synthesised, with the possibility of coordination not only by phosphorous but by phosphorous-oxygen atoms in order to stabilize intermediates. Monophosphine ligands L1-L4 (Figure 1) were prepared in good yields in which the <span class="Chemical">phosphorous cycle is modified (by the presence of different substituents or by increasing the ring size) in order to circumvent the conformational flexibility associated with five-membered rings, known to have a negative effect on enantioselectivity, but keeping their positive effect such as control of electronic, steric an chiral properties of the ligand by addition of substituents.

Figure 1

Monophosphine ligands with central chirality.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Monophosphinen> ligands with central chirality.

L1 pn class="Chemical">rpan>oved to be an effective chin class="Chemical">ral inductor in the AAA of standan class="Chemical">rd biaryl linear substrate with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile [rac-1a in Equation (1), Scheme 2]. The catalytic reaction was strongly dependent on the palladium precursor used and the palladium-ligand ratio; thus, [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 as precursor in a ratio Pd:L1 1:2 was fundamental to reach a 99% yield and >97% ee of (R)-2a. In addition, diethyl acetamidomalonate nucleophile afforded an increased enantioselectivity (Scheme 3) [17].

Scheme 3

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of rac-1a with diethyl acetamidomalonate in presence of L1.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1a with <span class="Chemical">diethyl acetamidomalonate in presence of L1.

Contrary to this result, L2 produced 96% ee of <span class="Chemical">(S)-2a in 87% yield with a Pd:L2 ratio of 1:1, suggesting that the η3-allyl<span class="Chemical">palladium species is stabilized by only one ligand through phosphorous and olefin coordination [18]. Crystallographic data on the complex stabilized by L2 showed a greater trans influence of phosphine compared to olefin coordination, favouring the nucleophilic attack on the allylic carbon bonded trans to phosphorous, resulting in the (S)-2a isomer. L3 known as 9-PBN was tested in the allylic alkylation of different cyclic substrates with CH2(CO2Me)2; the results are summarized in Table 1 [19]. The previously reported reaction with L3 in combination with linear substrates rac-1a gave good results, but reaction times were as long as three days [20].

Table 1

Asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with L3.

R (n)	%ee
Ph (2); C≡C-TMS (2)	90-95
Me (1 or 2); 2-furyl (2)	50-54

Asymmetn class="Chemical">ric allylic alkylation n class="Chemical">reaction with L3.

In the AAA with <papan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">spanpan> class="Gene">n class="Chemical">rac-1a and <spn>an class="Chemical">CH2(CO2Me)2 [Equation (1), Scheme 2], L4 produced 77% ee of (S)-2a in 86% yield. Although the authors did not comment on the results, it is possible to suggest a stabilisation of allylic intermediates through chelate species via phosphorous-<span class="Chemical">oxygen coordination with the carboxylic group present in the phospholane backbone [21].

The <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">monophosphine L5pan>> was prepared in good yield and stored as its <spn>an class="Chemical">BH3-adduct. L5 was tested with substrate <span class="Gene">rac-1a [Equation (1), Scheme 2] varying solvent and Pd:L5 ratios afforded 90% yield and 73% ee of (R)-2a in DMF at room temperature [22].

A family of P-chin class="Chemical">rpan>ogenic <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">phosphine ligands L6 containing a <spn>an class="Chemical">triazole moiety (ChiraClick ligands) was prepared in high yield allowing variations of both phosphine and <span class="Chemical">triazole moieties. Study of this family in the palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of rac-1a in THF afforded good to quantitative conversion in most cases, while the enantioselectivity proved less satisfactory with ee’s in the range of 8-12% [23].

Chin class="Chemical">rpan>al <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">phosphinocan class="Chemical">rboxylic acid L7 (Figure 2) was evaluated in asymmetric allylic alkylation of <spn>an class="Gene">rac-1a [Equation (1), Scheme 2] with Pd(OAc)2 in THF at room temperature for 24 h affording a 93% ee of (R)-2a and 77% yield. It was suggested that L7 forms a (P,O)-chelator, though no allylic palladium complex was isolated [24]. Chiral monophosphines have been synthesized with the Trost System Ligands in mind, TSL (vide infra), showing lower enantioselectivities. Spectroscopic analysis in solid state and in solution of the corresponding allyl-palladium complex unambiguously showed that these ligands coordinate the metal centre through P-O atoms; carboxylamide acted as the O-ligand. Glucosamide based ligand L8 (Figure 2) was tested in the asymmetric allylic alkylation of rac-1a in combination with different nucleophiles. An increment of the ratio Pd:L8 from 1:1 to 1:2 reduced the enantioselectivity from 84% ee of (R)-2a to 62% ee of (R)-2a. ES-MS analysis of the complex formed with a variety of Pd:L8 ratios, suggested that a chelate form was accomplished in a 1:1 ratio; this species was deemed responsible for the enantioselectivity. The excess of ligand resulted in an equilibrium between two species where ligand monocoordination and chelation were achieved; this resulted in a reduced reaction enantioselectivity [25].

Figure 2

Monophosphines with central chirality on carbon atoms.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Monophosphinesn> with central chirality on <spn>an class="Chemical">carbon atoms.

A series of ligands derived from <span class="Chemical">N-acetylglucosamine, <span class="Chemical">Naplephos (Figure in Table 2), were tested in the palladium-catalysed AAA of rac-1a with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile affording a 96% ee of (S)-2a.

Table 2

Asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with L9.

R	(%) ee (S)-2a
Me	39
CH2Ph	85
CH2Cy	87
tBu	89
(R)-CH(Me)Ph	91
(S)-CH(Me)Ph	86
CHPh2	91
C(Me)Ph2	80
CHCy2	80
Ph	45
CH2C6F5	60

Asymmetn class="Chemical">ric allylic alkylation n class="Chemical">reaction with L9.

Enapan class="Chemical">ntioselectivity was impn class="Chemical">roved inpan> the pnpan> class="Chemical">resence of bulkier ester substituents. Additionally, increasing the ratio Pd:L9 (1:1 to 1:4) and reducing reaction time (18 h to 10 min), enhanced enantioselectivity (80 to 96% ee of (S)-2a). NMR experiments were performed to study the coordination modes of the corresponding palladium complex at different Pd:L9 ratios. In the presence of 1 equiv. of ligand, spectroscopic analysis indicated the formation of [Pd(η3-C3H5)(κ-(P,O)L9)]+ species stabilised by coordination through phosphorous and oxygen of the carboxilamide group. Addition of an extra equiv. of ligand produced a new species, suggesting coordination of two phosphines L9 in a C-symmetrical fashion, forming the catalytic species responsible for the enhanced enantioselectivity [26].

2.2. Monophosphines with axial chirality

<n class="Chemical">sppan>an class="Chemical">Monophosphinpan>en> ligands derived from <spn>an class="Chemical">BINAP, MOP and MAP (<span class="Gene">L10 and L11, Figure 3), described by Hayashi [27,28] and Kocovsky [29], respectively, successfully alkylated rac-1a in enantiomerically pure fashion. In the case of MOP (L10), an interesting behaviour is observed when pure regioisomers, linear or branched phenylpropenyl acetates or <span class="Chemical">cyclopentenyl esters, are alkylated: It is observed that the nucleophilic attack takes place exactly at the carbon atom previously occupied by the acetate substituent (Scheme 4) [30]. In the case of MAP (L11), such outcome is not observed. This behaviour is known as “memory effect” and its origins are still a matter of debate, though many studies suggest that “memory effect” is directly influenced by the modes of stabilisation of cationic species by the monophosphine ligand, which are related to the conditions employed such as concentration and nature of nucleophile, and palladium precursor [31,32].

Figure 3

Monophosphine ligands with axial chiral.

Scheme 4

”Memory effect” with axial MOP ligands.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Monophosphinen> ligands with axial chiral.

”Memon class="Chemical">ry effect” with axial MOP ligands.

The <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">AZOPn> ligand (<spn>an class="Gene">L12, Figure 3) derived from the MAP ligand (<span class="Gene">L11) was tested to study the effect of trans-cis photoisomerisation under UV irradiation [33]. The catalytic reaction was performed in THF at room temperature with Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3 as precursor, achieving 96% yield and 88% ee of <span class="Chemical">(S)-2a. With MeCH(CO2Me)2 a 98% yield and 88% ee of (S)-enantiomer was observed; whereas, in the case of CH2(COMe)2 an 88% ee of (S)-product was obtained with 37% yield. The photoisomerisation effect did not affect the catalytic performance of the system, but it is interesting that while AZOP and MAP are structurally similar, these ligands behave differently in the catalysed allylic alkylation of rac-1a. When AZOP is used, (S)-2a is achieved while in the presence of MAP, (R)-2a is obtained. This means that during the catalytic process the azo group behaves like a methoxy group, as in the MOP ligand. In view of lack of evidence on how these ligands stabilise η3-allylpalladium intermediates, the mode of coordination of AZOP is hardly concluded.

The structure of <span class="Gene">L13 (Figure 3) presents axial chirality in virtue of the restricted rotation along the C-N bond. Catalytic performance in AAA of <span class="Gene">rac-1a produced modest enantioselectivities (55% ee) with low conversion (14% yield) [34].

As fan class="Chemical">rpan> as the impn class="Chemical">rovement of cleanen class="Chemical">r technologies in which reusable catalytic systems will provide a greener alternative is concerned, it is worth mentioning the chiral “light fluorous” phosphine ligand L14 (Figure 3) in which the introduction of long-chain perfluoroalkyl substituents increase their affinity for perfluorocarbon solvents. L14 catalyses the AAA of rac-1a systems in benzotrifluoride achieving 99% yield with 81% ee of (R)-2a, comparable results were accomplished when the reaction was performed in toluene [88% yield and 87% ee of (R)-2a]. The reaction yields were dependent on the nature of the nucleophiles: almost quantitative yield in 1 h with 85% ee of (R) for CH2(COMe)2; 69% yield with 44% ee of (S)-product for MeCH(CO2Me)2; and 67% yield with 85% ee of (S)-5 for AcNHCH(CO2Et)2 at 50°C. However, after recovery of the ligand and the corresponding palladium complex no catalytic activity was observed [35].

n class="Chemical">Rpan>ecently, the synpan>theses of axially chin class="Chemical">ral phosphine ligands derived from N-aryl indoles have been described (L15 and <span class="Gene">L16, Figure 4) and the function as monodentate phosphorous ligands toward Pd-allyl fragment has been proved in the case of L15a.

Figure 4

C-N bond axially chiral phosphines.

C-N bond axially chiral <span class="Chemical">phosphines.

The assessment of this chipapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">ral <npan> class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">indole phosphine in the standard AAA [Equation (1), Scheme 2] was carried out affording excellent enantioselectivities, up to 99% ee for (R)-2a. Pd/(-)-<spn>an class="Gene">L15c proved the best catalytic system (99% ee, <span class="Gene">TOF = 2h-1) while the Pd/L16 system turned out less effective (50% ee, TOF = 0.06h-1) [36]. The solid-state structure of a π-allyl-Pd(II) complex with L15a and chloride showed coordination of one ligand through phosphorous. Resembling a similar structure, M or W-type intermediates can be formed prior to nucleophilic attack. In the W-type intermediate, steric hindrance between the phenyl rings of the allylic substrate and the indole moiety might be present. Therefore, the mechanism probably proceeds via M-type intermediate, and nucleophilic attack, responsible of stereoselectivity, will occur at the carbon termini trans to the phosphine ligand.

2.3. Monophosphines with planar chirality

Then class="Chemical">rpan>e an class="Chemical">re scan class="Chemical">rce examples of this kind of phosphines, one example being the optically active Cr-complexed arylphosphine ligand L17 (Figure 5). The corresponding allyl-bromide-palladium complex was tested in the AAA of rac-1a, affording 90% ee of (S)-2a and the overall reaction yielded 97% [37]. The chiral environment created by the ligand, was observed in the solid state of a π-allyl-Pd complex with only one ligand coordinated through phosphine, supporting a mechanism with a Pd(0)-monophosphine as the catalytically active species. More recently Fang and co-workers succeeded in the synthesis of a family of stable benzoferrocenyl chiral ligands (L18, Figure 5), each isolated in the enantiomerically pure form. In the same catalytic reaction described above and in the presence of L18 in enantiomeric form (ratio P:Pd 2.5:1), complete conversion with moderate enantioselectivities was afforded: 39% ee of (S)-2a in 87% yield with L18a and up to 51% ee of (R)-2a with 93% yield with L18b. The authors attribute the opposite enantioselectivity induction to the catalyst conformations produced due to the monodentate nature of the ligands [38].

Figure 5

Monophosphine ligands with planar chirality.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Monophosphinen> ligands with planar chirality.

3. Diphosphine Ligands in Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Reactions

The design and synthesis of chiral <pan> class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands have played a crucial role in the development of high performance of <sppan>>an class="Chemical">metal-catalysed asymmetric reactions. Consequently, a great variety of chiral diphosphine ligands has been assessed in asymmetric processes. In the case of diphosphine ligands having central chirality, the Trost system ligands (TSL) are an eminent class of chiral inductors for asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions. Furthermore, they have been especially successful with allylic substrates that have proven difficult to control with other ligand systems [6,7,8,9,10,11]. Axially chiral ligands such as BINAP [39], BIHEP [40], MeO-BIHEP [41], BICHEP [42], SEGPHOS [43], SYNPHOS [44,45], TunaPHOS [46], tetraME-BITANP [47], tetra-BITIOP [48] and P-PHOS [49], have shown an excellent asymmetric induction, particularly in palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation.

Although, planapapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">r chinpan> class="Chemical">rality has received much less attention than the other elements of chirality (centres and axes), a wide variety of ferrocenyl ligands with planar chirality is known to date. Since the pioneering work of Ugi [50], several 1,2-disubsituted ferrocenes have been synthesised and the role of additional stereogenic centres has been discussed [28,51,52,53,54,55,56,57]. Among them, JOSIPHOS type ligands have attracted tremendous attention because their successful application in industrial synthesis of (S)-metolachlor, (+)-biotin and (+)-cis-methyldihydrojasmonate and it has stimulated intense studies in synthesis and applications of this kind of ligands [58,59,60,61,62].

3.1. Diphosphines with central chirality

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Diphosphinesn> possessing stereogenic centres are the most popular of the chiral ligands reported to date, mainly due to their stability and outstanding ability to form highly active and selective systems in the <spn>an class="Chemical">metal-catalysed AAA. <span class="Chemical">Bidentate diphenylphosphino benzoic acid (DPPBA)-based ligands (Figure 6) have shown to be an eminent class of ligands being particularly successful with allylic substrates, where other systems have failed [6,7,8,9,10].

Figure 6

C-symmetric diphosphine DPPBA-based ligands.

C-symmetn class="Chemical">ric <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphinen> <spn>an class="Chemical">DPPBA-based ligands.

The chin class="Chemical">rpan>al pocket fon class="Chemical">rmed by n class="Chemical">Pd-ligand fragment is believed to be related to the P-Pd-P bite angle (Figure 7). Increasing the bite angle results in positioning aryl groups upward; thereby, creating a chiral space arround the η3-allyl moiety. Furthermore, the primary chirality of the scaffold should induce stereogenic arrangement to both diarylphosphino moieties and linkers. Based on the tremendous amount of work with DPPBA-based ligands in Pd AAA reactions, Trost’s group noticed a correlation between ligand and product stereochemistry that evolved into a mnemonic [63]. In addition, a more sophisticated working model to predict the stereochemical outcome of allylation reactions using a family of C-symmetric DPPBA-based ligands was developed through a simplified picture model of the chiral pocket generated by the Pd-ligand fragment [64].

Figure 7

Model for ligand design.

Model fon class="Chemical">r ligand design.

The allylation of ppapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">rochinpan> class="Chemical">ral nucleophiles has been applied to the synthesis of natural products [65]. Using L19 as chiral inductor, it was possible to obtain a key intermediate (13 in Scheme 5) of the total synthesis of the oxindole alkaloid horsfiline showing analgesic properties with excellent yield and high enantioselectivity. The catalytic reaction is carried out with tetrabutylammonium difluorotriphenyl-silicate (TBAT) in order to generate the enolate anion.

Scheme 5

Allylation of prochiral nucleophiles in the synthesis of horsfiline.

Allylation of prochiral nucleophiles in the synthesis of <span class="Chemical">horsfiline.

n class="Chemical">Rpan>ecent reports on decan class="Chemical">rboxylative allylic alkylation reaction of allyl-enol carbonates have provided a feasible means to perform enantioselective carbon-carbon bond formation [66]. In the case of the 2-acylimidazole-derived enol carbonate 14, it was possible to synthesise highly enantioenriched 2-acylimidazole 15 with the chiral ligand L19 (Scheme 6). The enantioenriched 2-acylimidazole product 15 can be easily converted in the corresponding carboxylic acid, ester, amide, and ketone derivatives with complete retention of enantiopurity.

Scheme 6

Decarboxylative allylic alkylation reaction.

Decan class="Chemical">rboxylative allylic alkylation n class="Chemical">reaction.

In apan class="Chemical">n attempt to develop a new model to study the enantioselectivity in the allylic alkylation of cyclohexenyl den class="Chemical">rivatives 3b [Equation (2), Scheme 2] usinpan>g <n class="Chemical">span class="Gene">L19, a combined computational and 2H/<spn>an class="Chemical">13C label-NMR experiments of the corresponding η3-allyl and η3-cyclohexenyl complexes (Figure 8) have been carried out [67]. Although the model proposed by Trost has wide application and can be used to rationalise the outcome from nearly all of the optimized reactions catalysed by the system Pd/L19 and related TSL ligands [64], detailed information about the intermediates involved in the reactions would allow a structural basis for rationalization of the selectivity, and would facilitate further development and application of the TSL class. It was found that H-bonding interaction between the enolate oxygen of the malonate and the amide on the concave surface of fragment Pd/L19, is responsible for selectively directing the enolate carbon to the proximal (pro-S) terminus of the η3-C6H9 unit. This interaction provides not only a new rationale for the observed selectivities but also a catalyst design feature for further related reactions.

Figure 8

Cationic complexes of the (R,R)-standard ligand studied by NMR.

Cationic complexes of the <span class="Chemical">(R,R)-standard ligand studied by NMR.

Recent reports by Trost deal with <span class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed asymmetric alkylation of benzylic <span class="Chemical">methyl carbonates with a variety of unprotected 3-aryl oxindoles as prochiral nucleophiles (Scheme 7) [68].

Scheme 7

Asymmetric benzylic alkylation reaction.

Asymmetn class="Chemical">ric benzylic alkylation n class="Chemical">reaction.

When unprotected <span class="Chemical">3-phenyl oxindole 17 was employed as nucleophile in combination with <span class="Gene">L21 as chiral ligand, it was possible to obtain product 18 with high enantioselectivity. It was noticed that decreasing the reaction temperature was detrimental for activity, and mildly beneficial for enantioselectivity. Other chiral diphosphine ligands (L19, L20, L22, Figure 6) exhibited similar activity but lower enantioselectivity. The presence of an electron-donating or electron-withdrawing group at the para-position of the 3-phenyl moiety of 17 did not significantly affect the reaction enantioselectivity. Finally, introduction of a benzylic group at the 3-position of oxindoles via asymmetric benzylic alkylation in both, high yield 98% and high enantiomeric excess 96%, makes this reaction a remarkable tool in organic synthesis.

Mahn class="Disease">adpan>ik n class="Chemical">repon class="Chemical">rted the use of (1R,2S)-norephedrine and (1S,2S)-seudonorephedrine as chiral scaffold for the construction of ligands L23a and L23b (Figure 9) [69]. These compounds were employed in the asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction shown in Equation (1), Scheme 2. It was determined that these ligands L23a and L23b afforded (S)-2a with 88% and 63% ee, respectively. In addition, it was observed that the level of enantioselection of the alkylation reaction using L23a did not vary when the amount of the palladium precursor was changed.

Figure 9

Ephedrine derivated ligands.

An ipan class="Chemical">nexpensive chin class="Chemical">ral ligand <n class="Chemical">span class="Gene">L24 related to DIOP <spnpan>>an class="Gene">L25 (Figure 10) can easily be accessed from (+)-tartaric acid, as reported by Burke et al [70]. Using L24 in the reactions depicted in Equation (1) and (2) (Scheme 2) with a variety of Pd precursors, solvents and other reaction conditions afforded moderate to good enantioselectivities (max. 60% ee (R)-2a). However, ligand L24 was inherently superior to L25 with regard to enantiofacial discrimination. Varying the nature of the precursor from [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 to [PdCl2(CH3CN)2], Pd(OAc)2 or [Pd2(dba)3]•CHCl3, led to no significant differences in ee and lower conversions. In the case of the alkylation of rac-3b, the overall results were inferior to those using rac-1a with a maximum conversion of 27% using THF. For this substrate, there was little difference in the enantiodiscrimination induced by either ligand L24 or L25.

Figure 10

Berens’ DIOP analogue ligands.

Ben class="Chemical">rens’ DIOP analogue ligands.

A new type of C-symmetpapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">ric <npan> class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands (L26a-f, <spn>an class="Gene">L27a-b in Figure 11) with a <span class="Chemical">cyclobutane backbone, which can be considered as analogues of L19-L22, have been tested in the Pd-catalysed allylic substitution using linear substrate rac-1a and cyclic substrate rac-3b [Equation (1) and (2), Scheme 2] [71]. L26a-f showed excellent asymmetric induction in the reaction with linear substrates to give the corresponding allylation products in 91-99% yields with 96-99% ee. The extension of the catalyst systems to the allylic substitution of rac-3b demonstrated that the reaction smoothly proceed to give the corresponding cyclic allylation product 4b in good yields (70-80%) and enantioselectivities (78-87%). In order to explore the relationship between the carboxylate groups on the cyclobutane backbone of the diphosphine ligands and the enantioselectivity of the reaction, ligands L27a-b were synthesised. Comparing the enantioselectivities obtained in the reactions of Scheme 2 for ligands L26a, L27a and L27b, it was concluded that selectivity dramatically decreased with increasing the size of the ester groups. When the bisphosphine ligand L27b, which contains benzyl ester groups on the cyclobutane backbone, was used, the enantioselectivities of the reaction dropped to 80% ee.

Figure 11

Diphosphines containing a cyclobutene backbone.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Diphosphinesn> containing a <spn>an class="Chemical">cyclobutene backbone.

One of the ppapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">roblems of homogenpan>ous asymmetn class="Chemical">ric catalysis is the sepan class="Chemical">ration and recycling of the catalyst. To overcome this situation, the immobilization of catalysts on soluble polymer supports has received considerable attention. Owing to the high order of asymmetric induction of ligands L26a-f and L27a-b in Pd-catalysed allylic substitution reactions, a new type of soluble polymer-supported (PEG-OMe) diphosphine ligand was prepared [72]. The performance of the Pd complex of the MeO-PEG-supported ligand in allylic substitution reaction with rac-1a is outstanding (>99% yield and 96.4% ee.). In particular, the recovered catalyst could be reused nine times with high enantioselectivities (89.5–97.2% ee).

Another important class of <span class="Chemical">diphosphines with central chirality is P-chiral <span class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands based on dppf (1,1′-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene). Bearing different aryl substituents on phosphorous, these ligands were found to induce high enantioselectivities in rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenations of cinnamic acid derivatives [73]. Steric effects imposed by the nature of the substituents on chiral phosphorous and in the backbone (bite angle variation) and the influence of electronic properties on the ligand were studied by the use of phosphorous-stereogenic C-symmetrical ferrocenyl and bisferrocenyl diphosphines (L28-L31, Figure 12) [74].

Figure 12

P-Stereogenic ferrocenyl diphosphines.

The pen class="Chemical">rpan>fon class="Chemical">rmance of this gn class="Chemical">roup of ligands in the allylic alkylation of rac-1a [Equation (1), Scheme 2], with reaction times from 2 to 20 h at room temperature, yielded more than 80% of alkylated product. L28a-f ligands differ from each other by the different sizes of the respective aryl substituents on phosphorous, as a consequence, the enantiodiscrimination varied considerably.

P-Stereogenic <span class="Chemical">ferrocenyl diphosphines.

Ligand <papan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">spanpan> class="Gene">L28n>b, bearing <spn>an class="Chemical">2-naphthyl moieties, showed a poor performance, which might be rationalized by its resemblance with the achiral <span class="Chemical">dppf chelating ligand. Consequently, substitution in orto-position of the aryl group appeared crucial, but not sufficient for good asymmetric induction. The best results within this class of dppf-analogues were obtained employing diphosphine L28f (81% ee). In the case of the alkylation of substrates <span class="Gene">rac-1b and rac-3b, the performance of the catalysts was unsatisfactory since low enantiomeric excesses were achieved with moderate activities. Solid state analysis of the crystal structure of complex [Pd(1,3-diphenyl-η3-allyl)(L28a)]BF4 revealed a marked distortion of the η3-allyl fragment and, therefore, the site of nucleophilic attack is imposed by a combination of steric constraints and π-π interactions. Bulky allyls as well as proper ligand substituents are required to induce useful levels of enantiodiscrimination.

n class="Chemical">Rpan>ecently, Bun class="Chemical">rke and co-worken class="Chemical">rs carried out a comparison of (R,R)-Me-DuPHOS L32a and (R,R)-Pr -DuPHOS L32b (Figure 13) ligands in the palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reaction shown in Scheme 2 [75].

Figure 13

DuPHOS ligands.

Excellent epan class="Chemical">nantioselectivities (up to 98%) wen class="Chemical">re obtainpan>ed with <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">L32b though substrate conversions were moderate in all cases (only up to 60%). It was assumed that this may be related to the considerable steric hindrance inherent in the active η3-<spnpan>>an class="Chemical">allyl-palladium species formed prior to nucleophilic attack. In all cases the (R)-enantiomer of the alkylated malonate product was the major isomer, surprisingly different to the results obtained using L32a [76]. On the basis of computational and kinetic studies it was concluded that the steric hindrance generated during the malonate nucleophilic attack step might be the reason for the configurational switch between the two systems. Also, slower reaction rates in the formation of η3-1,3-diphenylallyl-palladium complex with L32b, explains the low activities of this ligand compared to L32a.

Mon class="Chemical">rpan>imoto and co-won class="Chemical">rkers have n class="Chemical">reported C-symmetric diamide-linked diphosphine ligands based on the amide–phosphine hybrid ligand VALAP which could be readily derived from L-valine (Figure 14) [77]. The versatile system consisting of the hetero-hybrid types or the diphosphines has actually played an important role in asymmetric allylic alkylation with diverse substrates and nucleophiles.

Figure 14

L-Valine-based hybrid diphosphines.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">L-Valinen>-based hybrid <spn>an class="Chemical">diphosphines.

Due to the cha<n class="Chemical">sppan>an class="Genpan>e">n class="Chemical">racteristics of the chiral <spn>an class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands with C-symmetry elements possessing a large bite angle remarkably high enantioselectivity is induced for sterically less demanding cycloalkenyl substrates. Diphosphine ligands L33a-c and L33f were examined in palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitution of cyclohexen-2-yl pivalate 19 (Scheme 8). Surprisingly, <span class="Chemical">L33c exhibited a high level of asymmetric induction affording 99% ee (S)-4b and 64% yield. On the other hand, ligands L33a and L33f did not display any catalytic activity. Unfavourable complexation of the ligands and obstruction in the oxidative addition of the Pd(0) complex or a nucleophilic attack to the π-allyl complex by steric effects of the ligands were suggested as possible causes of the observed behaviour.

Scheme 8

Asymetric allylic alkylation using VALAP type ligands.

Asymetric allylic alkylation using <span class="Chemical">VALAP type ligands.

Since <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphinen> ligand <spn>an class="Chemical">L33c afforded high levels of asymmetric induction in <span class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed enantioselective alkylations of cyclic allyl substrates, the catalytic performance for 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl pivalate 20 as linear allyl substrate was also examined (Table 3) [78].

Table 3

Catalytic behaviour of ligands L33 in asymmetric allylic alkylation of 20.

Entry	Ligand	Yield (%)b	ee (%)c
1	L33a	13	64 (R)
2	L33b	5	83 (R)
3	L33c	14	72 (S)
4	L33d	52	81 (S)
5	L33e	40	62 (S)
6	L33f	4	47 (R)
7	L33g	3	5 (S)
8	L33h	54	84 (S)
9	L33i	45	87 (S)
10	L33j	50	93 (S)

a Molar ratio: [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 / L33/ 20 / CH2(CO2Me)2 / BSA / AcOLi = 2.5 / 6 / 100 / 300 / 300 / 5. b Isolated yield by preparative TLC on silica gel. c The enantiomeric excess was determined by HPLC with a chiral column, Daicel Chiralpack AD.

Catalytic behavioun class="Chemical">r of ligands L33 in asymmetn class="Chemical">ric allylic alkylation of 20.

a Molar ratio: [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 / <span class="Gene">L33/ 20 / <span class="Chemical">CH2(CO2Me)2 / BSA / AcOLi = 2.5 / 6 / 100 / 300 / 300 / 5. b Isolated yield by preparative TLC on silica gel. c The enantiomeric excess was determined by HPLC with a chiral column, Daicel Chiralpack AD.

When the alkylated lipan class="Chemical">nken class="Chemical">r was modified by inpan>npan> class="Chemical">creasing the number of carbons, L33b and L33f, it was possible to increase ee values [47-83% ee of (R)-2a]; absence of carbons, L33g, afforded 5% ee of (S)-2a. 1,2- and 1,3-aryl linkers gave different enantiomers in low yield (entries 1 and 3 in Table 3, respectively). Voluminous R groups increased the yield together with ee [40-52% yield, 62-81% ee of (S)-2a]. The results are improved when the rigidity of ligand was modified, L33h-j [45-54% yield and 84-93% ee of (S)-2a]. Summarising, it was observed that the tendency was different in the reactions using acyclic and cyclic substrates.

3.2. Diphosphines with axial chirality

Dun class="Chemical">rpan>ing the 90’s decade, much effort was done on the sn class="Chemical">creening of axially chiral diphosphines in asymmetric catalytic reactions, with BINAP the most investigated ligand. As a result, several structural modifications on the biaryl skeleton have been developed in order to improve enantioselectivity in asymmetric catalytic reactions. Among the most relevant modifications are variation of aryl groups on phosphorous atoms [79] and structural changes in the atropoisomeric biaryls such as H8-BINAP, MeO-BIHEP, BIHEMP and SEGPHOS [80].

Main atropoisomeric <span class="Chemical">diphosphines.

Kawano and Ito reported the first successful application of Pd/<span class="Gene">L34 catalytic system in the allylations of α-acetamido-β-keto<span class="Chemical">esters, 21, with 3-substituted 2-propenyl acetates, 8, at -30 °C in toluene, obtaining alkylated products 22a-d with 76-95% ee in good yields (see Table 4). Based on the X-ray crystal structure of [Pd(η3-C3H5){(R)-BINAP}]ClO4, it is proposed that the phenyl groups of BINAP ligand may interact with the prochiral nucleophile favouring the attack by one of the enolate faces resulting in the observed enantioselectivity. For allylic substrates 8c and 8d, the nucleophilic attack discrimination of the allylic carbons is enhanced by the steric hindrance of phenyl allylic substituent. This high regioselectivity leads to a better enantioface-selection of the enolate, improving the ee value. Optically active α-allyl-α-acetamido-β-ketoesters 22, are useful precursors for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-alkyl-α-amino acids [81].

Table 4

Asymmetric allylation of α-acetamido-β-ketoesters.a

Ligand	Product	Time, h	Yield, %	ee, %
L34	22a	24	84	76
L34b	22a	24	87	68
L35b	22a	24	75	77
L34	22b	24	92	80
L34b	22b	24	93	72
L35b	22b	24	90	84
L34	22c	2	87	94
L34b	22c	24	78	90
L35b	22c	24	68	93
L34	22d	48	71	95

a The ratio 1:2: KOBu:Pd:L was 100:150:120:0.5:1.05. b-25°C (taken from Ref. [84]).

Later, a series of <span class="Chemical">BINAP-derivatives with sterically demanding substituents at 4 and 4’ positions of <span class="Chemical">binaphthyl skeleton were developed [82,83] and evaluated in asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation [84]. Substitutions by trimethylsylil groups (L35) showed a positive effect on the enantioselectivity of the allylations of 21 (Table 4). In addition, enhancement of asymmetric induction was observed when the steric effect of the substituents at both, cinnamyl acetate and nucleophile was increased. In the solid state, η3-allyl-palladium stabilized with L34 and L35 respectively, showed that the dihedral angle between the naphthyl rings is smaller when SiMe3 substituents are present (76.7° for L35 and 79.9° for L34). The small dihedral angle enhances the steric hindrance between phenyl groups and the coordinating η3-allyl moiety, leading to a better stereodiscrimination in the nucleophilic attack on the η3-allyl group.

Asymmetric allylation of α-acetamido-β-keto<span class="Chemical">esters.a

Moreover, <span class="Gene">L35 gave better enantioselectivities than unsubstituted <span class="Gene">L34 when dimethyl malonate sodium salt or dimethyl acetamidomalonate cesium salt were used as nucleophiles in the alkylation of rac-1a. Pd/L34 catalytic system gave the alkylated product in 25% ee of (R)-2a, while L35 afforded 80% ee under the same conditions. In the case of dimethyl acetamidomalonate the effect on the asymmetric induction was less dramatic, 84% and 94% of ee was obtained employing L34 and L35, respectively. A similar behaviour was observed in the AAA of cyclohexenyl acetate [rac-3b, Equation (2), Scheme 2] with dimethyl malonate sodium salt [Pd/L34 40% ee of (S)-4b and Pd/L35 57% ee of (S)-4b].

Pn class="Chemical">rpan>evious studies indicated that <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(S)-BINAP was an effective chiral inductor in the AAA of <spn>an class="Gene">rac-1a with dimethyl acetoamidomalonate as nucleophile [94% ee of (S)-2a] [85]. In contrast, when <span class="Chemical">(S)-Binap was used with dimethyl malonate, the enantioselectivity strongly depends on the reaction conditions, 34% ee of (R)-2a when sodium salt was used, while 90% ee of (R)-2a was attained employing BSA as base [86].

Furthermore, Pd/<span class="Gene">L34 system has been tested in the catalytic asymmetric allylation of <span class="Chemical">1,3-diketones, 23, providing 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-diketones 24 with 64-89% ee in good yields (Scheme 9). Asymmetric induction mainly depends on the γ-substituent nature of the allylic substrates. When cinnamyl acetate was used several unsymmetrical 1,3-diketones were alkylated affording good enantioselectivities (77-89% ee). Then, BINAP has shown again that is an effective chiral inductor for the formation of quaternary carbons [87].

Scheme 9

Asymmetric allylation of 1,3-diketones.

Asymmetric allylation of <span class="Chemical">1,3-diketones.

Depending on the configuration of <span class="Chemical">BINAP it was possible to lead the reaction preferentially toward either the nucleophilic or the elimination product in a <span class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed reaction of optically active bicyclic compounds, employing [Pd(1-Me-Allyl)Cl]2/BINAP under AAA conditions. As shown in Scheme 10, the reaction of (2S,4aS)-25 and the malonate anion catalysed by Pd/(S)-BINAP catalyst gave (2S,4aS)-26 in 76% yield with the diene product [(S)-27 in 20% yield] as a minor product, whereas, the reaction using Pd/(R)-BINAP under similar conditions afforded the diene [(S)-27 in 66% yield] as major product and only 24% yield of alkylated product (2S,4aS)-26.

Scheme 10

Asymmetric allylic alkylation and H-abstraction by nucleophile.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation and H-abst<span class="Gene">raction by nucleophile.

Consequepan class="Chemical">ntly, the n class="Chemical">reaction betweenpan> <n class="Chemical">span class="Gene">n class="Chemical">rac-28 and Pd/<spn>an class="Chemical">(S)-BINAP proceeded enantio-distinctively favouring the alkylation pathway from substrate (2S,4aS)-28, and elimination product (S)-30 from (2R,4aR)-28. The effect of the amount of nucleophile on kinetic resolution of substrate was also observed, which allowed to conclude that malonate anion acts as nucleophile for alkylation and as base for elimination at different rates, alkylation being faster than elimination [88]. Since the nucleophilic attack at the quaternary carbon is sterically hindered, H-abstraction reaction becomes feasible. Therefore, the chemoselectivity of this reaction depends on the relative rates of the nucleophilic attack (formation of 29) and H-abstraction (formation of 30).

New modificatiopan class="Chemical">ns on (n class="Chemical">R)-1,1’-<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">binaphtol were carried out to produce non-cyclic <spn>an class="Gene">L39 and macrocyclic L40 chiral diphosphines bearing axial chirality (Figure 16) and were tested in the classical palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions [Equation (1), Scheme 2]. 2,2´-and 3,3’-susbtitutions on 1,1’-binaphtyl backbone were done in order to increase the steric interaction between ligand and substrate in palladium active species. In the case of reaction with rac-1a, the alkylated product (S)-2a was obtained in high yields with 98-86% ee employing L40 under Trost’s basic conditions while the non-cyclic ligand L39, gave lower ee’s (70-66%). L40e was the best chiral inductor in this case. The enantioselectivity strongly depends on the substrate nature since high enantioselectivities were obtained with rac-1a whereas for rac-1b and cyclic substrates rac-3, substrates with minor steric hindrance, the asymmetric induction was very low [89].

Figure 16

High-membered diphosphines.

High-memben class="Chemical">red <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphinesn>.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Cycloalkenyl acetatespan>>, 31 and 33 in Scheme 11, were obtained via kinetic resolution by enzymatic acylation and afterward were alkylated with <spn>an class="Chemical">dimethyl malonate using Pd/<span class="Chemical">diphosphine catalysts in an attempt to study the transference of chiral information from an enantioenriched substrate to the product. The alkylation of cyclopentenyl acetate 31 was regio- and stereo-selective providing >95% ee of (S)-32 for all assayed ligands [non-chiral dppe, centrally chiral <span class="Chemical">(S,S)- or (R,R)-DIOP, (R)-BINAP L34]. As expected, for the alkylation of the rac-31 substrate using these ligands, no enantiomeric excess was observed. Under these conditions, neither the intermediate η3-allyl palladium complex epimerizes nor the substrate (S)-31 undergoes racemization. Whereas the alkylation of 31 is highly regioselective (95:5), the regioselectivity in the case of 33 was unsuccessfully controlled under the same conditions. However, (R)-tol-BINAP proved to be an effective chiral ligand to produce a single regioisomer from (S)-33 with >99% ee of (R)-34 but two regioisomers from (R)-33. Products 34 and 35 are formed by nucleophilic attack to each terminal allylic carbons thus, the regioselectivity of the attack controls the formation of these isomers. When the nucleophilic attack takes place at the allylic carbon of the ring, 35 is formed, and when the nucleophile attacks the allylic carbon of the linear fragment, 34 is produced. Therefore, the regio- and enantioselectivity in the alkylation of cyclohexenyl acetates, could be controlled by the proper choice of stereochemistry of both, enantiopure substrate and catalyst [90].

Scheme 11

Asymmetric alkylation of cyclic substrates.

Asymmetn class="Chemical">ric alkylation of cyclic substn class="Chemical">rates.

The intpapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">roductionpan> of two non equivalenpan>t <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diarylphosphanyl substituents into the 2- and 2’-positions of 1,1’-binaphthyl has been successfully accomplished from (S)-BINOL to obtain chiral diphosphine ligands with non equivalent <span class="Disease">phosphorous atoms. This strategy was followed previously to reach an electronic or steric discrimination via ligand donor atoms as in the case of high efficient chiral controller JOSIPHOS (L45, Figure 19) [91]. Ligands (S)-L41a-b were compared with (S)-BINAP in the Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation of rac-1a with dimethyl malonate under Trost’s basic conditions. The o-tolyl-substituted diphosphine (S)-L41b [85% ee (R)-2a] was a better chiral inductor than both, p-tolyl-susbtituted diphospine (S)-L41a and (S)-BINAP, 32% and 34% ee of (R)-2a, respectively [92].

Figure 19

Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation of rac-1a using ZnEt2.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">BINAPPn>’ ligands.

Asymmetric <span class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1a with carbon nucleophiles (Nu = dimethyl malonate, dimethyl methylmalonate, acetyl acetone, and diethyl acetamidomalonate) proceeded in water in the presence of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium hydrosulfate (CTAHSO4), K2CO3 and (R)-BINAP (L34), affording enantioselectivities up to 91%. The efficiency of the catalyst was slightly better in water in the presence of surfactant. The increment of the activity was also observed due to a micellar effect. The alkylation was extended to other allylic acetates, but no micellar effect was detected because the high solubility in water of these allylic substrates compared to rac-1a, resulting in low values of ee [93].

Chin class="Chemical">rpan>al atn class="Chemical">ropoisomen class="Chemical">ric bipyrimidinyl diphosphines, L42, have been successfully applied in palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitutions. The ligands obtained in high enantiomeric purity by simple synthetic methods were evaluated in the reaction rac-1a [Equation (1), Scheme 2] and the BSA/base nature, Pd/substrate ratio and temperature were optimized. The catalysts were very active (TOF up to 66 h-1) providing 95-81% ee of (S)-2a. BSA/NaOAc permitted to obtain the best catalytic results compared with others BSA/salt combinations (LiOAc, KOAc and Cs2CO3) [94].

Chiral atropoisomeric <span class="Chemical">bipyrimidinyl diphosphine.

To avoid the use of stn class="Chemical">rpan>ong bases, <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diethyl zinc was recently tested in the enantioselective <spn>an class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation of rac-1a. Zinc enolate was generated from direct reaction between <span class="Chemical">diethyl zinc and dimethyl malonate providing up to 99% ee of (R)-2a for the alkylated compound when Pd/L34 was used as catalyst, though, this system showed low activity. In THF at reflux, the activity was improved while the enantioselectivity was slightly diminished [97% ee of (R)-2a]. Several known chiral ligands containing stereogenic centres, axes or planes and their combination were examined under these optimized conditions in AAA (Figure 19).

Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1a using <span class="Chemical">ZnEt2.

Ligands with axial chipapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">rality funpan> class="Chemical">rnished higher chiral inductions compared to those with central and/or planar chirality. Interestingly, Trost ligand (R,R)-L19 and other effective chiral controllers as (R,R)-Et-DuPHOS (L49) and (R,R)-Et-BPE (L51), showed very low activity under these conditions. The combination of (R)-BINAP (L34) as chiral ligand and ZnEt2 to generate the nucleophile was assessed in alkylation of rac-1a with different carbon nucleophiles giving 97-78% ee. The same excellent performance was observed in the alkylation of racemic 1,3-dialkylallyl acetates with dimethyl malonate [95].

A new type of axially chipapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">ral <npan> class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands, L52 (Figure 20), based on the chiral 1,1’-spn>iro-biindane scaffold have been developed for asymmetric catalysis [96] and their use in <spn>an class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation have been reported by Zhou and co-workers [97]. The results revealed that L52 ligands are effective in the Pd-catalysed AAA of <span class="Gene">rac-1a with dimethyl malonate and related nucleophiles providing the alkylation products in high ee’s (up to 99.1%), with ligand L52e being the most selective. It was observed that ligands bearing electron-donating or sterically hindered groups on the P-phenyl rings of the <span class="Chemical">phosphine provided higher enantioselectivities. For instance, ligand L52e has 4-methoxy and 3,5-dimethyl groups on the P-phenyl rings of the phosphine.

Figure 20

Spiro-diphosphines.

<span class="Chemical">Spiro-diphosphines.

3.3. Diphosphines with planar chirality

The most impon class="Chemical">rpan>tant chin class="Chemical">ral ligands bearing sten class="Chemical">reogenic planes are based on ferrocene skeleton and have been widely used in asymmetric metal-catalysis [56,98,99,100]. The use of ferrocene as scaffold allows tuning the electronic and steric properties of the ligand by simple derivatization. The 1,2-disubstituted- ferrocene ligands display planar chirality combined or not with other chiral elements such as stereogenic centres or axes. JOSIPHOS L45 is an example of a successful chiral inductor containing planar and central chirality (Figure 19) [91]. The 1,1’-disubstitued ferrocenes have no planar chirality on the metallocene backbone, however, upon coordination to a metal can generate axial chirality [101]. There are few examples of diphosphines exhibiting only planar chirality, among them are PHANEPHOS L53 [102], 1,1’- and 1,2-bis(phosphino)ferrocenes, L54 [103,104] and L55 [105], phosphaferrocene L56 [106] and L57 [107].

Ikeda and co-wopapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">rkenpan> class="Chemical">rs showed that C-symmetric ferrocene ligands with planar chirality can produce an excellent chiral environment to obtain high enantioselectivities for palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation. 1,1’-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2’-disubstituted-ferrocene ligands L58-L59 (Figure 21) afforded 86-92% ee in the alkylation of rac-1a and up to 83% ee in the alkylation of cyclic substrate rac-3b with dimethyl malonate. The best catalytic system, Pd/L59a, possessing only planar chirality, was also proved in the alkylation of rac-1b but only 12% ee was achieved [108].

Figure 21

Diphosphines with planar chirality.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Diphosphinesn> with planar chirality.

<n class="Chemical">sppan>an class="Chemical">Ruthenocene analogues, L60, were recently synthesised and screened in <spn>an class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitutions. The novel C-symmetric diphosphine ligands bearing only the planar chirality of ruthenocene, 1,1’-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-2,2’-disubstituted-<span class="Chemical">ruthenocenes (L60, Figure 21) showed higher catalytic activity than their ferrocene analogues L59 in the alkylation of rac-1a by dimethyl malonate. Asymmetric inductions up to 95.7 % ee of (S)-2a were attained (-25 °C) with L60a. Ligands L60b have also proved to be effective chiral ligands in palladium catalysed asymmetric allylic substitutions of rac-3b affording 80% ee of (R)-4b in high conversions. Compared to the corresponding ferrocene ligands, lower temperature conditions (-25°C) were needed in order to achieve similar enantioselectivities [109]. From the solid state structures of the palladium dichloride complexes containing L59 or L60, it was found that the twist angle of the two Cp rings in the complexes clearly had an effect on enantioselectivity. As a result of the metal nature of the metallocene framework, the distance between the Cp groups was shorter for ruthenocene and the twist angle was larger compared to ferrocene. For the palladium catalyzed AAA of rac-1a, L60a with larger twist angle (23.63°) showed higher enantioselectivity, while an opposite trend was observed for substrate rac-3b, (L60b 16.05°).

Following a similapapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">r pnpan> class="Chemical">rocedure, ferrocenyl bisphosphine ligands L61 (Figure 21) have been prepared and tested in the allylic alkylation of rac-1a with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile under Trost’s basic conditions. The catalytic system Pd/L61 produced excellent asymmetric inductions [98% ee of (S)-2a] in high yields (up to 98%). A dramatic increment in enantioselectivity was observed when the additive, metal acetate, was changed from Li+ to Cs+ [110].

The alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1a by <span class="Chemical">dimethyl malonate using 1,2-bis(phosphino)ferrocenes (L62a-c, Figure 22) leads to ee’s of 12, 62 and 83% of (S)-2a respectively [111]. Comparing with the ee’s obtained with the structurally related ligand JOSIPHOS L45 [a: 81% of <span class="Chemical">(S)-2a and b: 93% of (S)-2a] [91] it is possible to conclude that an additional stereogenic element improves the asymmetric performance of this type of ligands.

Figure 22

JOSIPHOS-related diphosphines

JOSIPHOS-n class="Chemical">related <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphinesn>

Sets of heten class="Chemical">rpan>o- and homoannularly bridged fern class="Chemical">rocenyl diphosphine ligands, L63 and L64 (Figure 23), were tested in <spn>an class="Chemical">palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation of rac-1 with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile affording enantioselectivities from low to moderate. In the allylic alkylations the maximum ee values obtained were 76% from rac-1a and 55% from rac-1b. The comparisons were done in two ways: a) functional groups or b) identical backbone. However, the enantioselectivity does not depend on changes on the functional groups or changes on the ligand backbone whatsoever. In addition, the NMR ratios of M-isomer/W-isomer palladium complexes with these ligands do not correlate properly with the enantioselectivities observed, which can be rationalized in terms of nucleophilic attacks to both allylic terminal carbons at different rates [112].

Figure 23

Annularly bridged ferrocenyl diphosphines.

Annularly bridged <span class="Chemical">ferrocenyl diphosphines.

While asymmetn class="Chemical">rpan>ic inductions of L63a and L64a are comparable to JOSIPHOS L45a [91], the enantioselectivity of JOSIPHOS L45b is much better than those of the related L63b and L64b annulan class="Chemical">rly bridged ligands. In addition, asymmetric allylic alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1b with <span class="Chemical">dimethyl malonate showed that central chirality in this kind of complexes controls the configuration of the product.

New [5]<span class="Chemical">ferrocenophane-based <span class="Chemical">diphosphine ligands (L65 and L66 in Figure 23), having planar and central chirality, were prepared and successfully applied to Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation. Enantioselectivities up to 91% ee of (S)-2a were obtained using ligand (R,S)-L65 in the allylic alkylation of rac-1a with dimethyl malonate. In contrast, the mismatched ligand (R,R)-L66 afforded only 51% (S)-2a of ee in the same reaction [5]ferrocenophane diphosphine ligands for Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry. 2006 ">113].

<n class="Chemical">sppan>an class="Chemical">Fen class="Chemical">rrocenyloxazoline diphosphinesn> containing both, planar and central chirality (Figure 24) have been screened in the alkylation of <span class="Gene">rac-1a [Equation (1), Scheme 2]. Enantioselectivities up to 91.5% ee of <span class="Chemical">(S)-2a and high yields were attained. The best asymmetric induction was preformed by L67 substituted with an electronwithdrawing group (R’= 3,5-(CF3)2-C6H3), whereas ligands with electrodonor groups (R’=3,5-(CH3)2-C6H3) gave poorer enantioselectivities. Since the coordination of L67 (R=R’=C6H5) to Pd{1,3-diphenyl-η3-allyl} moiety was confirmed, the behaviour exhibited for these ligands was explained in terms of the different trans-effect of the phosphorous atoms as well as the steric effect of the oxazoline group to favour a M-type conformation of the catalytically active species [114].

Figure 24

Ferrocenyloxazoline diphosphines.

<span class="Chemical">Ferrocenyloxazoline diphosphines.

Chiral <span class="Chemical">ferrocenylphosphines containing α-(2-hydroxyethylamino) side chains (L68a, L69 and L70, Figure 25) have proved to be more effective asymmetric inductors than other <span class="Chemical">diphosphines in palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of rac-1a with NaCH(COMe)2 [71-90% ee of (S)-2a] [115]. When chiral ferrocene aminoalcohols, L69 with three (central–central–planar) stereogenic elements were evaluated in the above mentioned reaction in THF employing K2CO3 as base, low yields and modest-to-low enantiomeric excesses were obtained. Better asymmetric inductions, up to 73% ee of (S)-2a, were achieved using 2,5-pentanedione sodium salt as nucleophile [116].

Figure 25

Ferrocenylamine diphosphines.

<span class="Chemical">Ferrocenylamine diphosphines.

The same AAA reaction [Equation (1), Scheme 2] was also investigated by Toma in the ionic liquid <span class="Chemical">[1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium][PF6]. Three chiral <span class="Chemical">ferrocenylphosphine ligands containing planar chirality plus central chirality (S,R)-L68a, (R,S)-L68b and (R,S)-L68c were used as chiral inductors and their behaviour was compared to that showed by (R)-BINAP, L34. It was found that in the presence of K2CO3 Pd/(R,S)-L68b [74% ee of <span class="Chemical">(S)-2a] was slightly better chiral inductor than Pd/(S,R)-L68a system [68% ee of (S)-2a]. The yield of the alkylated product was low in both cases and a decrement of the enantioselectivity was observed in all recycling experiments [117]. Similar performances were displayed by Pd/(R,S)-L68c and Pd/L34 when BSA/KOAc was used as base in the catalytic reaction [Equation (1), Scheme 2]. The best ee of the alkylated product [74% ee of (S)-2a] was achieved with L34 with a TOF value of 2.6 h-1. Attempts to re-use the catalyst led to loss of both activity and selectivity [118].

Pan class="Chemical">rpan>ticulan class="Chemical">rly inten class="Chemical">resting is the chiral diphosphine with planar chirality L71 that generates, upon coordination to a metal centre, a new chiral axis (Figure 26). Since the phosphorous donor atoms and the steric fence of bulky ferrocenyl unit, only a single stereoisomer is obtained creating a new stereogenic axis in the metal complex. Thus, in addition to the planar chirality, this ligand bears intrinsic axial chirality. Allylic substitution of rac-1a with dimethyl malonate in the presence of [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 and the chiral ligand L71 produced (R)-2a in high yield and 92–98% ee depending on the temperature. The catalytic system was also very effective in the alkylation of racemic 1,3,3-triphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate affording one regioisomer for alkylated product with 94% ee in high yield [119]. The mode of complexation of L71 was verified in the crystal structure of [Pd(η3-C3H5)L71]ClO4, demonstrating that the ferrocenyl moiety efficiently shields the bottom side and the back side, directing nucleophilic attack towards the formation of only one enantiomer.

Figure 26

Knochel’s novel diphosphine ligand.

Knochel’s novel <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">diphosphinen> ligand.

In a diffepapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">renpan>t stn class="Chemical">rategy Hoe and Dai used the well-known Tn class="Chemical">rost’s chiral pocket concept to design new ferrocene-based ligands, L72 and L73 (Figure 27) containing two stereogenic centres and two stereogenic planes. Enantioselectivities up to 95% and 66%ee were obtained using (R,R,S,S)-L72·2H2O and (R,R,S,S)-L73 respectively, in the palladium-catalysed alkylation of allylcarbonates (2-methyl-3-methylcarbonate-1-propene) although no explanation of the effect of two water molecules has been given at the moment [120]. Asymmetric alkylation of iminoesters 36 were also investigated with these ligands [121]. High conversions and low-to-modest enantioselectivities were achieved although ligand L72 was a more effective chiral inductor, 57.4 % ee of 2a-(+), than L73, 3.8 % ee of 2a-(+), and other diphosphines such as (S)-BINAP, ferrocenylphosphineoxazoline, ferrocenyl-phosphinethioether and cyclohexyl Trost’s ligand L19.

Figure 27

Ferrocenylphosphines analogous to TSL.

<span class="Chemical">Ferrocenylphosphines analogous to TSL.

<span class="Chemical">Palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylation of different amino<span class="Chemical">esters with ligand L72.

4. Miscellaneous Ligands in Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Reactions

Modulan class="Chemical">rpan> multidentate <n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">phosphines containing chiral pockets analogues to TSL were synthesised from chiral <spn>an class="Chemical">multidentate amines and 2-(diphenylphosphino) benzaldehyde (Figure 28). In order to investigate the effect of the structure of nitrogen linkers, C-symmetric ligands L79 and L80 were also prepared. These ligands were evaluated in the alkylation of a number of <span class="Chemical">cyclohexen-3-yl and cyclopenten-3-yl carbonates with dimethyl malonate catalysed by palladium. In the case of rac-cyclohexen-2-yl methylcarbonate, TOF up to 240 h-1 and ee’s of 85-72% of (S)-alkylated product were achieved employing 2.5% mol Pd with ligands L74, L76 and L81. Slightly improvements on the asymmetric induction were obtained with lower palladium loadings (1.25 % mol). The enantioselectivity attained with Trost ligand L19 was the highest for this reaction [93% (R)] although the catalytic system showed lower activity than most of multidentate ligands. In the case of rac-cyclopenten-2-yl ethyl carbonate, L74, L76 and L81 gave poor enantioselectivities, 31, 18 and 53% ee of (S)-product respectively, at high rates. No study about the metal coordination has been done to correlate the nature of donor atoms and the linker structure on the activity and selectivity of this kind of multidentate ligands [122].

Figure 28

Multidentate ligands.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Disease">van Leeuwenn> and Reek have developed a new family of compounds based on the inte<spn>an class="Gene">raction of two monodentate ligands with a <span class="Chemical">zinc-porphyrin template to generate a bidentate ligand (L82 and L83, Figure 29a). This approach is well-known as SUPRAphos concept and it can be applied to form libraries of homo- and hetero-bidentate ligands as well as monodentate ligands L84 [123,124,125,126].

Figure 29

a) Diphosphine SUPRAphos b) Monophosphine SUPRAphos.

a) <span class="Chemical">Diphosphine SUPRAphos b) <span class="Chemical">Monophosphine SUPRAphos.

n class="Chemical">Rpan>ecently, non-chin class="Chemical">ral phosphine compounds (L85-L88, Figure 30) and chiral zinc-porphyrin complexes (Figure 31) were assembled and screened in the palladium-catalysed AAA of rac-1a, affording low ee’s. Better results were attained when <span class="Gene">racemic (L89) and nonchiral (L90) diphosphines were used to bind the chiral zinc-porphyrin template (38 or 39) [18% and 12% ee (S), respectively] [127].

Figure 30

Phosphines for supramolecular strategies.

Figure 31

Chiral zinc-porphyrin complexes.

<n class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Phosphinesn> for supramolecular strategies.

Chiral <span class="Chemical">zinc-porphyrin complexes.

4. Conclusions

In summapapan class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">ry, the npan> class="Chemical">Pd-catalysed formation of enantiomerically pure compounds in the presence of chiral phosphine ligands has been unambiguously accomplished, to the point of gaining wide application in the synthesis of complicated organic molecules. In spite of all the efforts to design a ligand that could fit any C-C bond formation, the complicated suitable combination of substrate and nucleophile encourages chemists to design ligands and test them with a variety of reactants. Moreover, the reaction conditions, particularly nucleophile generation, should be taken into account to achieve high catalyst performance. The present review shows successful application of mono- and diphosphines containing different stereogenic elements in AAA, albeit the main body of ligands used to date corresponds to heterodonors also combined with phosphorous-donor atoms. Therefore, the use of chiral phosphines as asymmetric inductors in AAA is a promising area in chemistry to be investigated in the future.

Table 5

Palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylation of different aminoesters with ligand L72.

Substrate	Yield %	%ee
36a	87	57
36b	93	54
36b	92	71
36c	95	75
36d	94	57
36e	93	52
36f	92	25