Design, preparation, and implementation of an imidazole-based chiral biaryl P,N-ligand for asymmetric catalysis.

A new strategy for increasing the barrier to rotation in biaryls has been developed that allows for the incorporation of 5-membered aromatic heterocycles into chiral atropisomers. Using this concept, an imidazole-based biaryl P,N-ligand has been designed and prepared as a single enantiomer. This ligand performs exceptionally well in the enantioselective A(3)-coupling, demonstrating the potential of this new design element.