Enantioselective synthesis and application to the allylic imidate rearrangement of amine-coordinated palladacycle catalysts of cobalt sandwich complexes.

The reaction of (η(5)-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadien-yl)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with sodium tetrachloropalladate and (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine gave planar chiral palladacycle di-μ-chloridebis[(η(5)-(Sp)-2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadienyl,1-C,3'-N)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt]dipalladium [(Sp )-Me2 -CAP-Cl] in 92% ee and 64% yield. Enantiopurity (>98% ee) was achieved by purification of the monomeric (R)-proline adducts and conversion back to the chloride dimer. Treatment with AgOAc gave (Sp)-Me2-CAP-OAc which was applied to asymmetric transcyclopalladation (up to 78% ee). The (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine mediated palladation methodology was applicable also to the corresponding N,N-diethyl (82% ee, 39% yield) and pyrrolidinyl (>98% ee, 43% yield) cobalt sandwich complexes. A combination of 5 mol % of the latter [(Sp)-Pyrr-CAP-Cl] and AgNO3 (3.8 equiv) is a catalyst for the allylic imidate rearrangement of an (E)-N-aryltrifluoroacetimidate (up to 83% ee), and this catalyst system is also applicable to the rearrangement of a range of (E)-trichloroacetimidates (up to 99% ee). This asymmetric efficiency combined with the simplicity of catalyst synthesis provides accessible solutions to the generation of non-racemic allylic amine derivatives.

Introduction

There are three principal reasons to develop methods for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral class="Chemical">palladacycles,[1] an area in which many examples are <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">metallocene-based planar chiral complexes.[2] First is the use of these metallacycles as catalysts for the synthesis of non-racemic organic compounds.[3] Conspicuous success has been achieved in catalysis of the asymmetric allylic imidate rearrangement and closely related reactions using planar chiral palladacycles based upon bulky cobalt sandwich complexes (e.g., 1 and 2) or related pentaphenylferrocene frameworks (Scheme 1).[4-6] In these reactions the palladium-carbon palladacycle bond is maintained throughout the catalytic cycle. Numerous other examples of chiral palladacycle-catalysed asymmetric transformations have been reported also.[7] Second is the use of palladacycles as precatalysts for the in situ generation of Pd0 species.[8, 9] Finally, the development of enantioselective methods for palladium catalysed asymmetric C–H activation is informed by the synthesis of complexes related closely to the intermediate chiral palladacycles generated in these reactions.[10]

Scheme 1

Diastereoselective synthesis of cobalt oxazoline palladacycle 1 [(S,Rp)-COP-OAc] and transformation into chloride-bridged dimer 2 [(S,Rp)-COP-Cl].[11]

Diastereoselective synthesis of <span class="Chemical">cobalt oxazoline <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">palladacycle 1 [(S,Rp)-COP-OAc] and transformation into chloride-bridged dimer 2 [(S,Rp)-COP-Cl].[11]

Central to the synthesis of 1, as with many related planar chiral <span class="Chemical">metallocene-based <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">palladacycles, is an auxiliary-mediated diastereoselective C–H activation step resulting in a new carbon–palladium bond.[2b, 11] There are far fewer examples of planar chiral palladacycles derived from enantioselective C–H activation. Non-racemic planar chiral palladacycles have been generated from a limited number of enantioselective transcyclopalladation reactions,[12] and in 1979 Sokolov reported the N-acetyl amino acid mediated enantioselective palladation of N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocene (3).[13] Recent re-investigation of this latter chemistry within our group identified conditions for the synthesis of palladacycle (Sp)-4 in 96 % ee using (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine (5),[14] and an extension of the methodology to the kinetic resolution of [2.2]paracyclophane (6) gave palladacycle (Sp)-7 in more than 99 % ee (Scheme 2).[15] In this study we report on the application of enantioselective palladation to the facile synthesis of non-racemic amine palladacycles containing a cobalt sandwich complex, and on the application of these to asymmetric transcyclopalladation and asymmetric allylic imidate rearrangement.

Scheme 2

Application of enantioselective palladation to the synthesis of planar chiral palladacycles.

Application of enantioselective palladation to the synthesis of planar chiral <span class="Chemical">palladacycles.

Results and Discussion

<span class="Chemical">Amine 8, a <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cobalt sandwich complex analogue of 3, was first synthesised as previously reported from the Mannich-type reaction of (η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with bis(dimethylamino)methane.[16] The low yield of this reaction (typically ∼40 %) led us to an alternative and more productive procedure in which acid 9[11, 17] was converted to dimethylamide 10 followed by reduction (Scheme 3).

Scheme 3

Alternative synthesis of amine 8.

Alternative synthesis of <span class="Chemical">amine 8.

The palladation of <span class="Chemical">amine 8 has been reported previously with a mixture of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">lithium tetrachloropalladate and sodium acetate in methanol.[18] This result suggested that the prochiral cobalt complex 8 would be a suitable substrate for a chiral carboxylate mediated asymmetric palladation. Application of the room temperature conditions optimised previously for the enantioselective palladation of 3, with a reaction time of 16 h, resulted in a new chloride bridged palladacycle 11 in 64 % yield (Scheme 4). The product was determined to have an enantiomeric excess of 92 % following treatment with (S)-proline and analysis of the resulting diastereomeric adducts 12 and 13. Their ratio was determined readily by 1H NMR spectroscopy, in particular by comparison of one of the base-line resolved methyl singlets [12: 2.31 ppm (3 H, s), 13 2.36 ppm (3 H, s)], or by comparison of two of the signals arising from the cyclopentadienyl rings [(12: 4.26 ppm (1 H, br s), 13 4.30 ppm (2 H, br s)]. Performing the palladation reaction at 0 °C resulted in no change in enantioselectivity and a longer reaction time was required to ensure complete palladation. A racemic acetate-bridged palladacycle 14 was synthesised by heating together 8 and palladium acetate in toluene at reflux for 2 h (Scheme 5). Subsequent treatment with (S)-proline as before gave a 1:1 mixture of 12 and 13, confirming that these proline adducts are planar chiral stereoisomers and not cis/trans coordination stereoisomers.

Scheme 4

Enantioselective palladation of 8 and derivatisation with (S)-proline.

Scheme 5

Non-enantioselective palladation of 8 with Pd(OAc)2.

Enantioselective palladation of 8 and derivatisation with <span class="Chemical">(S)-proline.

Non-enantioselective palladation of 8 with <span class="Chemical">Pd(OAc)2.

Following recrystallisation from <span class="Chemical">CH2Cl2/<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">hexane of the proline adducts derived from asymmetric palladation, a small quantity of the major diastereoisomer was obtained pure and the configuration of the element of planar chirality was determined as Sp by X-ray crystallography (Figure 1).[19] The pyrrolidine ring is disordered, with alternative sites for one methylene group, at C(24a) and C(24b). The other four members of this ring are approximately co-planar, so that the five-membered ring adopts an envelope shape with the flap on one side, for example, C(24a), or the other, C(24b).

Figure 1

A molecule of (S,Sp)-12 from the X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] include: Pd–C(11) 1.973(4), Pd–N(17) 2.092(4), Pd–N(21) 2.023(4), Pd–O(27) 2.082(4); mean Co–C(C4 ring) 1.991(5), mean Co–C(cp) 2.07(2). Principal angles [°] include: C(11)-Pd-N(17) 82.68(18), N(21)-Pd-O(27) 82.50(16).

A molecule of <span class="Chemical">(S,Sp)-12 from the X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] include: Pd–C(11) 1.973(4), Pd–N(17) 2.092(4), Pd–N(21) 2.023(4), Pd–O(27) 2.082(4); mean Co–C(<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">C4 ring) 1.991(5), mean Co–C(cp) 2.07(2). Principal angles [°] include: C(11)-Pd-N(17) 82.68(18), N(21)-Pd-O(27) 82.50(16).

The high enantioselectivity observed in the palladation reaction points to the involvement of a <span class="Chemical">palladium intermediate containing a coordinated <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">carboxylate ligand obtained by deprotonation of (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine. Palladation reactions with palladium acetate and other palladium(II)-carboxylate species have been shown to proceed by a concerted metallation-deprotonation (CMD) pathway, a mechanism consistent with a kinetic isotope effect of more than 1.[20] To determine if this mechanism may be operating in the N-acetyl amino acid mediated formation of 11, a racemic 2-deutertated sample of the starting amine D-(rac)-8 (90 % deuterium incorporation) was synthesised by treatment of the racemic palladacycle 14 with LiAlD4 (Scheme 6). Repetition of the Na2PdCl4/N-acetyl amino acid palladation conditions, with N-acetylglycine in place of (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine, followed by ligand substitution with sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate, gave monomeric palladacycle D-(rac)-15/H-(rac)-15 (64 % deuterium incorporation). The intramolecular isotope effect of 2.5 is very similar to the value of 2.3 determined for the palladation of the ferrocene analogue 3 under the same conditions.[14] Furthermore, use of the same sample of D-(rac)-8 in a reaction with palladium acetate in toluene at reflux followed by ligand substitution revealed an intramolecular isotope effect of 2.0 (D-(rac)-15/H-(rac)-15=60:40). All of these values are consistent with a carboxylate ligand accelerated CMD pathway, with the reactions containing (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine resulting in the preferential formation of the (Sp)-palladacycle.

Scheme 6

Determination of the intramolecular isotope effect for the N-acetyl amino acid promoted palladation of 8.

Determination of the intramolecular isotope effect for the <span class="Chemical">N-acetyl amino acid promoted palladation of 8.

A pathway for the chiral <span class="Chemical">carboxylate mediated palladation of 8 is outlined in Scheme 7. This is based on the DFT calculated mechanism of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">dimethylbenzylamine cyclometalation by palladium acetate,[21] and a suggested extension of this process to the N-acetylphenylalanine mediated enantioselective palladation of phosphines containing a 2-phenylferrocene substituent.[22] In this pathway an initially formed amine and η2-carboxylate ligated complex 16 leads to transition state 17 with the carbonyl oxygen of the now η1-carboxylate ligand participating in deprotonation simultaneously with the formation of the new carbon–palladium bond in the vacant coordination site. Replacement of ligand X in 17 by the nitrogen of the amino acid derived ligand to give a chelate would appear to be geometrically incompatible with the participation of the carbonyl group of this ligand as a base. Instead the conformational properties of the ligand are controlled by its dipeptide-like properties.[22] Variation of the ee of the (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine employed in cyclometallation resulted in a small positive non-linear effect with respect to the ee of metallacycle (Sp)-11, an outcome compatible with coordination of a second η1-carboxylate 18 and chirality matched rate accelerated cyclometallation (Figure 2).

Scheme 7

A possible pathway for the enantioselective palladation of 8.

Figure 2

An investigation into the relationship between the ee of N-acetylphenylalanine and the ee of product palladacycle (Sp)-11.

An investigation into the relationship between the ee of <span class="Chemical">N-acetylphenylalanine and the ee of product <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">palladacycle (Sp)-11.

Separation of the diastereoisomeric <span class="Chemical">proline adducts was achieved readily by column chromatography. This was most conveniently performed by first treating <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-11 with (R)-proline as the major diastereoisomer (R,Sp)-13 has a higher Rf (0.24) than the minor diastereoisomer (R,Rp)-12 (0.16) in 2.5 % MeOH/CH2Cl2, such that the majority of the former can be eluted with little or no contamination from the latter. If required, a subsequent recrystallisation can ensure diastereomeric purity (>99:1 as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy). The X-ray crystal structure of (R,Sp)-13 (see the Supporting Information) confirmed further the absolute configuration and the trans nitrogen geometry.

Conversion back to the <span class="Chemical">cobalt amine palladacycle (Sp)-11 [<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-Me2-CAP-Cl] was carried out by stirring, overnight, a biphasic mixture of (R,Sp)-13 in CH2Cl2 and aqueous 0.5 m HCl (Scheme 8).[23] The enantiopure chloride-bridged dimer is formed in good yield as an approximately 1:1 mixture of isomers with respect to the cis/trans arrangements of the two bridged C–N chelates. Addition of silver acetate to (Sp)-11 resulted in the clean formation of acetate bridged dimer (Sp)-14 [(Sp)-Me2-CAP-OAc], and in common with other examples of planar chiral acetate-bridged palladacycles this is a single, presumably trans, stereoisomer.[24] Treatment of (Sp)-11 with sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate [Na(hfacac)] gave (Sp)-15 [(Sp)-Me2-CAP-hfacac], although attempts to synthesise this directly from proline adduct (R,Sp)-13 were unsuccessful.

Scheme 8

Ligand exchange reactions starting from (R,Sp)-13.

Ligand exchange reactions starting from <span class="Chemical">(R,Sp)-13.

A representation of the X-ray crystal structure of (rac)-15 (obtained from (rac)-14 and Na(hf<span class="Chemical">acac)) is shown in Figure 3.[25] The hf<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">acac ligand allows comparison of this structure with the hfacac derivative of palladacycles 1 and 2 [(S,Rp)-COP-hfacac].[5c] In common with that structure is the longer length of the O(2)–Pd bond compared to O(1)–Pd, indicative of the larger trans influence of the carbanion ligand compared to nitrogen. That both these bond lengths in 15 are longer than the corresponding bonds in the COP derivative point to more electron density on the palladium atom of 15 due to the greater basicity of the amine nitrogen compared to the oxazoline nitrogen,[26] and the presence of the electron-withdrawing oxazoline substituent in the COP derivative. This is supported further by the larger chemical shift of the methine proton in the hfacac ligand of the COP derivative (5.95 ppm) compared to that in 15 (5.87 ppm).

Figure 3

A molecule of (rac)-15 from X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] and angles [°] [corresponding data for (S,Rp-COP-hfacac) in parenthesis][5c] include: C(5)–Pd 1.955(3) [1.962(6)], N(1)–Pd 2.085(3) [2.026(5)], O(1)–Pd 2.046(2) [2.020(4)], O(2)–Pd 2.119(2) [2.102(4)], C(5)-Pd-N(1) 81.87(12) [80.8(2)], O(1)-Pd-O(2) 91.33(9) [92.77(15)].

A molecule of (rac)-15 from X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] and angles [°] [corresponding data for (S,Rp-<span class="Gene">COP-hf<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">acac) in parenthesis][5c] include: C(5)–Pd 1.955(3) [1.962(6)], N(1)–Pd 2.085(3) [2.026(5)], O(1)–Pd 2.046(2) [2.020(4)], O(2)–Pd 2.119(2) [2.102(4)], C(5)-Pd-N(1) 81.87(12) [80.8(2)], O(1)-Pd-O(2) 91.33(9) [92.77(15)].

A number of <span class="Chemical">amines related to the <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">N,N-dimethylamino containing substrate 8 were synthesised to examine further the asymmetric palladation methodology. Following reduction of methyl ester 19,[27] the alcohol 20 was converted in situ with N-bromosuccinimide/triphenylphosphine into the corresponding α-bromomethyl sandwich complex followed by treatment with a variety of secondary amines to give products 21 a–e (Scheme 9).[28] Oxidation of alcohol 20 to aldehyde 22[27] followed by reductive amination with benzylamine gave secondary amine 23. Hydrogenolysis of this resulted only in debenzylation to give the primary amine 24 with no formation of (η5-methylcyclopentadienyl)(η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, an alternative reduction product which would have resulted from hydrogenolysis of the nitrogen-C(α-sandwich complex) bond. Finally, introduction of a Cbz group followed by reduction of 25 with lithium aluminium hydride gave the N-methyl amine 26.

Scheme 9

Synthesis of further amine substrates 21 a–e, 23, 24 and 26.

Synthesis of further <span class="Chemical">amine substrates 21 a–e, 23, 24 and 26.

Application to these new <span class="Chemical">amines of the standard asymmetric palladation conditions resulted in only two new <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">palladacycles, (Sp)-27 and (Sp)-28 derived from the N,N-diethylamine 21 a and pyrrolidinyl complex 21 b, respectively (Scheme 10). (S)-Proline derivatisation revealed the ee of 27 as 82 % and 28 as more than 98 %. In the latter case the minor diastereoisomer (S,Rp)-32 could not be detected by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The determination of the ratio of isomers as more than 100:1 was made following the synthesis of (R,Sp)-32 from (R)-proline, and the use of this to spike the 1H NMR sample. The absolute configuration of these new palladacycles was assigned initially by the sign of the specific rotation [(Sp)=−ve, (Rp)=+ve],[29] and confirmed by the correspondence between the CD spectra of (Sp)-27 and (Sp)-28 with that of (Sp)-11 (see the Supporting Information). That the diethylamine and pyrrolidine derivatives are limiting substrates under these reaction conditions is revealed by the reduced yield obtained. The N,N-dimethyl, N,N-diethyl and pyrrolidinyl substrates appear to have the correct balance of nitrogen basicity and steric accessibility to permit palladation. It is significant that treatment of 21 c–e with Pd(OAc)2 in toluene at either 70–80 °C, or heating at reflux, also did not result in palladation.

Scheme 10

Enantioselective palladation of additional amine substrates.

Enantioselective palladation of additional <span class="Chemical">amine substrates.

Preliminary investigations into the use of these new CAP complexes in asymmetric synthesis began with the class="Chemical">N,N-dimethylamino derivatives obtained following <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">proline-mediated purification. Transcyclometallation is a term coined to describe the exchange of cyclometalated ligands without the formation of dissociated metal salts.[30] Following a demonstration of asymmetric transcyclopalladation using palladacycles derived from (R)-3-amino-3-phenyl-2,2-dimethylpropane,[12a] one of us reported that the reaction between (S,Rp)-COP-OAc (1) and prochiral phosphines 33 or 34 resulted in the clean formation of phosphapalladacycles 35 and 36 in up to 95 % ee (R=Cy).[12b] The applicability of CAP complexes to this reaction was investigated by combining (Sp)-Me2-CAP-OAc and phosphine 33 (R=Ph) followed by heating at 70 °C in toluene for 24 h (Scheme 11). The initially formed acetate-bridged phosphapalladacycle was converted into the monomeric acac ligated complex 35 for which a 86:14 ratio of Rp and Sp enantiomers was determined by chiral HPLC analysis. In the same way phosphine 34 (R=Cy) gave a 89:11 ratio of Rp and Sp isomers of 36.

Scheme 11

Asymmetric transcyclopalladation and a phosphine addition product.

Asymmetric <span class="Chemical">trans<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cyclopalladation and a phosphine addition product.

The initial reaction between a <span class="Chemical">phosphine substrate and the <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">amine-coordinated palladacycle results in the formation of a monomeric adduct, as revealed by the synthesis of (Sp)-37 from 33 and (Sp)-11 (Scheme 11). A representation of the X-ray crystal structure of (Sp)-37 is shown in Figure 4.[31] In common with most other nitrogen ligand based palladacycles, the added phosphine is incorporated trans to nitrogen, the thermodynamic ligand substitution product.[32] The triarylphosphine ligand displays an induced P configuration, and the tetraphenylcyclobutadiene moiety is M. This latter configuration is also displayed in the solid state structure of (rac)-15 (relative to Sp), but (S,Sp)-12 and (R,Sp)-13 are P, revealing no correlation between the planar and induced propeller chirality of the η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene group.[33]

Figure 4

A molecule of (Sp)-37 from X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] include: Pd–Cl 2.383(4), Pd–C(51) 2.004(16), Pd–N(522) 2.193(10), Pd–P(6) 2.271(4), mean Co–C(C4 ring) 1.97(4), mean Co–C(cp) 2.05(7), mean Fe–C(substd-cp) 2.00(4), Fe–C(cp) 2.03(4). Principal angles [°] include: C(51)-Pd-N(522) 80.9(6), P(6)-Pd-Cl 87.8(2).

A molecule of <span class="Chemical">(Sp)-37 from X-ray analysis. Principal bond lengths [Å] include: Pd–Cl 2.383(4), Pd–C(51) 2.004(16), Pd–N(522) 2.193(10), Pd–P(6) 2.271(4), mean Co–C(<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">C4 ring) 1.97(4), mean Co–C(cp) 2.05(7), mean Fe–C(substd-cp) 2.00(4), Fe–C(cp) 2.03(4). Principal angles [°] include: C(51)-Pd-N(522) 80.9(6), P(6)-Pd-Cl 87.8(2).

The X-ray crystal structure of <span class="Chemical">(Sp)-37 also reveals the orientation of the ferrocenyl group above the <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">palladium centred square-plane, as beneath lie phenyl groups attached to the η4-cyclobutadiene moiety. This and the trans to nitrogen coordination geometry are instrumental in controlling the enantioselectivity of palladium transfer. A pathway for this process is outlined in Scheme 12 based, as before, on dimethylbenzylamine cyclopalladation and related studies.[21, 22] Following formation of 38, dissociation of the amine ligand by formation of the η2-acetate complex 39 is followed by acetate assisted concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) via transition state 40 to give 41. Subsequent protonolysis of the cobalt complex carbon–palladium bond by retro-CMD releases amine 8 and gives an acetate ligated phosphapalladacycle, replacement of which on addition of Na(acac) results in isolated complexes (Rp)-35 or (Rp)-36. Although rotation is possible about the carbon–palladium bond in 39, the conformer drawn is favoured by the orientation of the coordinated phosphine away from the dimethylaminomethyl moiety. Thus the planar chirality of this monodentate species is also a factor in controlling the enantioselectivity.

Scheme 12

Mechanism and origin of enantioselection in asymmetric transcyclopalladation.

Mechanism and origin of enantioselection in asymmetric <span class="Chemical">trans<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cyclopalladation.

Kinetic and molecular modelling studies on the <span class="Gene">COP-Cl catalysed allylic imidate rearrangement revealed that the planar chirality is also the key factor in controlling the facial selectivity of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">nitrogen addition to the alkene moiety, this being bound trans to the oxazoline nitrogen in the rate and enantioselectivity determining anti-amino palladation step.[5e] Given the similarity of the coordination site trans to the amine nitrogen, it was anticipated that CAP catalysis of the allylic imidate rearrangement by this pathway would result in usable levels of enantioselectivity, and a predictable correspondence between the configurations of planar and product chirality (Sp gives R). This was investigated first with the allylic imidate rearrangement of representative (E)- and (Z)-N-(para-methoxyphenyl)trifluoroacetimidate substrates 42 (Scheme 13, Table 1). The reactions were performed first with 5 mol % of (Sp)-11 at room temperature, which resulted in modest conversions for the formation of (R)-43 (75 % ee) and (S)-43 (20 % ee) from E and Z substrates, respectively (entries 1 and 2). Similar results were obtained with catalyst (Sp)-28, the E substrate also resulting in higher conversion and enantioselectivity (entries 3 and 4). Focusing on substrate (E)-42, and increasing the reaction temperature to 38 °C with the addition of proton sponge, improved the ee to 86 % but the conversion was still modest (entry 5). Under similar conditions 5 mol % of (S,Rp)-COP-Cl (1) resulted in essentially complete conversion, and up to 92 % ee.[5a]

Scheme 13

Use of (S)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of (E)- and (Z)-N-(para-methoxyphenyl)trifluoroacetimidates (42).

Table 1

Use of (Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of (E)- and (Z)-N-(para-methoxyphenyl)trifluoroacetimidates (42)[a]

Entry	Cat. (Sp)	x [mol %]	T [ °C]	Config.42	Conv. [%][c]	ee­43[%][d]	Config.43[d]
1	11[b]	5	RT	E	50	75	R
2	11[b]	5	RT	Z	54	20	S
3	28	5	RT	E	48	75	R
4	28	5	RT	Z	26	43	S
5	28[e]	5	38	E	43	86	R
6	28[f]	5	38	E	>99[g]	81	R
7	28[e,f]	5	38	E	>99[h]	83	R
8	28[e,f]	0.5	38	E	33	65	R

[a] 0.6 m 42 in CH2Cl2, reaction time 60 h at RT or 24 h at 38 °C. [b] Catalyst ee more than 98 %. [c] Determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. [d] Determined by chiral HPLC of the secondary amine following trifluoroacetate removal. [e] With 4 x mol % 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthylene. [f] With 3.8 x mol % AgNO3. [g] Isolated yield=80 %. [h] Isolated yield=80 %.

Use of <span class="Chemical">(S)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(E)- and (Z)-N-(para-methoxyphenyl)trifluoroacetimidates (42).

Use of <span class="Chemical">(Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(E)- and (Z)-N-(para-methoxyphenyl)trifluoroacetimidates (42)[a]

[a] 0.6 m 42 in <span class="Chemical">CH2Cl2, reaction time 60 h at RT or 24 h at 38 °C. [b] Catalyst ee more than 98 %. [c] Determined by <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">1H NMR spectroscopy. [d] Determined by chiral HPLC of the secondary amine following trifluoroacetate removal. [e] With 4 x mol % 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthylene. [f] With 3.8 x mol % AgNO3. [g] Isolated yield=80 %. [h] Isolated yield=80 %.

Assuming a correlation between conversion and the rate of catalysis, the reduced activity observed with the CAP catalysts is attributed to the increased electron density on the class="Chemical">palladium of the <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">amine coordinated complex. Related chloride-bridged ferrocene imidazoline palladacycles are essentially inactive as catalysts for the allylic imidate rearrangement due the electron-donating properties of the iron containing metallocene.[6] Activation is required by the addition of silver salts, a recent study having identified the resultant catalyst as a PdIII species obtained by initial chloride ligand abstraction followed by oxidation.[34] Addition of 3.8 equivalents with respect to (Sp)-28 of AgNO3 prior to the introduction of the substrate (E)-42 resulted in complete conversion to give (R)-43 in 81 % ee (entry 6). Essentially the same outcome was obtained on addition of proton sponge (entry 7), though a tenfold reduction in catalyst loading to 0.5 mol % led to the erosion of enantioselectivity and yield (entry 8).

Encouraged by these results we applied the CAP catalysts to the rearrangement of class="Chemical">(E)-trichloroacetimidates 44 (Scheme 14). Compared to <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">N-aryltrifluoroacetimidates these are simpler to synthesise, and the products of rearrangement require only a single deprotection step to release an allylic amine building block. Initial experiments with 1, 2 and 5 mol % of (Sp)-11 gave a higher ee value with each increase in catalyst loading (entries 1–3), and use of 5 mol % of (Sp)-28 further increased the ee to 86 % (Table 2). As these reactions all resulted in incomplete conversion to the product, the palladacycle (Sp)-28 was again activated by the addition of 3.8 equivalents of AgNO3 prior to the addition of the substrate. This gave complete conversion and an ee of 73 % (entry 5), which on repetition in the presence of proton sponge increased to 99 % ee (entry 6). Decreasing the catalyst loading to 0.5 mol % again eroded significantly the ee and yield (entry 7), and so a small range of additional substrates were examined at 5 mol % loading (entries 8–10). The allyl containing trichloroacetimidate 44 b, which due to the additional alkene functionality capable of competitive palladium coordination is a challenging substrate for this reaction, resulted in (R)-45 b in 71 % ee. In contrast, methyl and benzyl containing substrates 44 c/d reacted smoothly to give (R)-45 b and (R)-45 c, in 91 and 87 % ee, respectively. These results are comparable to (S,Rp)-COP-Cl catalysed rearrangement of trichloroacetimidates,[5b,d] but now using a catalyst available readily from highly enantioselective palladation of a simple prochiral substrate.

Scheme 14

Use of (Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of (E)-trichloroacetimidates 44 a–d.

Table 2

Use of (Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of (E)-trichloroacetimidates (44)[a]

Entry	Cat. (Sp)	x [mol %]	Substrate (R)	Conv. [%][c] (yield [%])	Product[d]	ee [%][d]
1	11[b]	1	44 a (Pr)	25	(R)-45 a	51
2	11[b]	2	44 a (Pr)	32	(R)-45 a	68
3	11[b]	5	44 a (Pr)	51	(R)-45 a	72
4	28	5	44 a (Pr)	51	(R)-45 a	86
5	28[e]	5	44 a (Pr)	>99 (77)	(R)-45 a	73
6	28[e,f]	5	44 a (Pr)	>99 (78)	(R)-45 a	99
7	28[e,f]	0.5	44 a (Pr)	7	(R)-45 a	64
9	28[e,f]	5	44 b (allyl)	58 (55)	(R)-45 b	71
8	28[e,f]	5	44 c (Me)	68 (66)	(R)-45 c	91
10	28[e,f]	5	44 d (Bn)	>99 (70)	(R)-45 d	87

[a] 0.6 m 44 in CH2Cl2, reaction time 39 h at 38 °C. [b] Catalyst ee more than 98 %. [c] Determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy; yield=isolated yield. [d] Determined by chiral HPLC. [e] With 3.8 x mol % AgNO3. [f] With 4.0 x mol % 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthylene.

Use of <span class="Chemical">(Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(E)-trichloroacetimidates 44 a–d.

Use of <span class="Chemical">(Sp)-CAP-Cl in catalysis of the rearrangement of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(E)-trichloroacetimidates (44)[a]

[a] 0.6 m 44 in <span class="Chemical">CH2Cl2, reaction time 39 h at 38 °C. [b] Catalyst ee more than 98 %. [c] Determined by <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">1H NMR spectroscopy; yield=isolated yield. [d] Determined by chiral HPLC. [e] With 3.8 x mol % AgNO3. [f] With 4.0 x mol % 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthylene.

Conclusions

Enantioselective palladation of <span class="Chemical">N,N-dimethylaminomethyl-appended <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cobalt sandwich complex 8 with Na2PdCl4 mediated by (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine gave the chloride-bridged palladacycle (Sp)-11 in 92 % ee. The intramolecular isotope effect (kH/kD=2.5) is consistent with a concerted metallation–deprotonation pathway mediated by a chiral η1-carboxylate ligand. The enantiopurity of (Sp)-11 may be increased to more than 98 % ee by chromatographic separation of the minor diastereoisomer formed on addition of (R)-proline followed by treatment of the major diastereoisomer with aqueous HCl. A number of related aminomethyl-substituted cobalt complexes were synthesised readily, but this enantioselective palladation protocol is limited to N,N-diethyl- (82 % ee) and pyrrolidinyl (>98 % ee) substituents. Combining this enantioselective palladation with subsequent enantioselective transcyclopalladation enables the synthesis of ferrocene-based phosphapalladacycles in up to 78 % ee. The activity and enantioselectivity of a cobalt amine palladacycle catalyst for the allylic imidate rearrangement is increased significantly following the addition of 3.8 equivalents of silver nitrate. The catalyst generated from (Sp)-28 results in the rearrangement of (E)-trichloroacetimidates with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Combined with the simple highly enantioselective generation of (Sp)-28, this methodology enables the straight-forward generation of highly scalemic allylic amine derivatives for application in organic synthesis.

Experimental Section

General: Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on Merck <span class="Chemical">Silica Gel 60 F254 and was visualised with UV light, <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">iodine or potassium permanganate stain. NMR spectra were measured at 500 or 400 MHz for 1H and 126 or 100 MHz for 13C. The residual solvent protons (1H) or the solvent carbons (13C) were used as internal standards for chemical shift determinations. IR spectra were recorded on a Fourier transform interferometer; only diagnostic and/or intense peaks are reported. Melting points were measured in a melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. All reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and were purified using standard methods where required. Toluene and THF were dried over sodium and benzophenone ketal. Dichloromethane was dried over CaCl2. Methanol was dried over 4 Å molecular sieves. Complexes 9,[17] 19,[27] 20[27] and 22[27] were prepared as previously described. All imidate substrates used were synthesised according to the literature procedures from the corresponding allylic alcohols.[5a,b,d]

Synthesis of (η,-dimethylcarboxamido<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl)(η: A flask was charged with 9 (1.00 g, 1.91 mmol) and it was then dissolved in <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">CH2Cl2 (20 mL). Oxalyl chloride (0.33 mL, 3.8 mmol) and dimethylformamide (3 drops) were added sequentially. After 30 min the solution was concentrated in vacuo re-dissolved in CH2Cl2 and re-concentrated in vacuo to give the crude acid chloride as a red/brown solid. A solution of the crude acid chloride in CH2Cl2 (30 mL) was added via cannula to a solution of dimethylamine hydrochloride (0.311 g, 3.81 mmol) and triethylamine (2.30 mL, 16.5 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (20 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature. After 16 h the solution was washed with water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic layer was dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in a minimum volume of CH2Cl2 and purified by column chromatography (SiO2, 7:3 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to give the product 10 as an orange solid (1.01 g, 96 %). M.p. 249 °C; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.55–7.44 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.32–7.18 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 5.16 (br s, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.75 (br s, 2 H, Cp-H), 2.79 (br s, 3 H, CH3), 2.64 ppm (br s, 3 H, CH3); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=135.64, 129.04, 128.12, 126.64, 85.46, 84.89, 77.36, 76.26 ppm (C=O and 2×CH3 not observed); IR (neat): =3052, 2923, 1967, 1609, 1596, 1496, 1388, 1267, 1162, 1027 cm−1; HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for C36H31CoNO: 552.1732 [M+H]+; found 552.1726.

Alternative synthesis of (η,-dimethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl)(η:[16] A flask was charged with 10 (0.986 g, 1.78 mmol) and it was then dissolved in <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">THF (20 mL). The flask was cooled in an ice-water bath and lithium aluminium hydride (0.214 g, 5.63 mmol) was added in two portions. The reaction was left to stir, overnight. On completion, water (20 mL) was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3×20 mL). The organic layer was dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the product 8 as an orange solid (0.959 g, 99 %). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.51–7.40 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.33–7.21 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.73 (t, J=2.0 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.68 (d, J=2.1 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 2.90 (s, 2 H, CH2), 2.24 ppm (s, 6 H, 2×CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.42, 128.95, 128.10, 126.30, 93.84, 84.21, 83.66, 74.89, 56.53, 44.95 ppm.

Synthesis of di-μ-chlorobis[(η)-,-dimethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(R)-N-acetylphenylalanine (0.740 g, 3.57 mmol) and NaOH (0.066 g, 1.65 mmol) in water (15 mL) was added to a solution of Na2Pd2Cl4 (0.439 g, 1.49 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL). The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 8.0 using either aqueous 50 % NaOH(aq.) or conc. HCl(aq.) as required and the mixture was allowed to stir for 20 min. A solution of 8 (0.800 g, 1.49 mmol) in MeOH/CH2Cl2 (75/15 mL) was then added in portions over 5 min. The solution was allowed to stir for 16 h at RT. On completion, the reaction mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2 (150 mL) and washed with brine (2×100 mL). The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, 4:1 hexanes/EtOAc) gave the product (Sp)-11 as an orange solid (0.650 g, 64 %), ee=92 % as determined by formation of the proline adducts. M.p. 143–145 °C; [α]=−289 (c=1.1 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2). Further characterisation data below.

Synthesis of <span class="Chemical">proline adduct (,)-12: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-11 (0.050 g, 0.04 mmol) in acetone (1 mL) was added to a solution of NaHCO3 (0.031 g, 0.37 mmol) and (S)-proline (0.043 g, 0.37 mmol) in water (0.5 mL). During the addition a copious amount of precipitate was formed. The reaction was vigorously stirred for 16 h at RT and then diluted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was washed with further portions of CH2Cl2 (2×25 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over MgSO4, filtered and solvent was removed in vacuo yielding the product as an orange solid (0.050 g, 90 %). Ratio of (S,Sp)-12/(S,Rp)-13=24:1. Crystals of (S,Sp)-12 suitable for X-ray crystallography were obtained by slow diffusion of hexane into CH2Cl2 solution (∼50:1 hexane/CH2Cl2). M.p. 190–192 °C; [α]=−99 (c=1.29 mg mL−1 in CHCl); 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.58–7.56 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.26–7.22 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.36 (br s, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.15 (t, J=2 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.93 (app. q, J=7.6 Hz, 1 H, NHCH), 3.20 (d and br s, J=13.2 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2 and NH), 2.87 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.65 (s, 3 H, CH), 2.50–2.40 (m, 1 H, NHCHH), 2.38 (s, 3 H, CH), 2.20–2.00 (m, 3 H, 3×CH), 1.60–1.50 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.24–1.18 ppm (m, 1 H, CHH); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.72, 129.05, 128.23, 126.25, 103.75, 101.58, 84.33, 82.67, 77.85, 74.01, 64.28, 52.60, 51.70, 51.17, 29.89, 26.10 ppm (C=O not observed); IR (neat): =2450, 2919, 1597, 1496, 1443, 1379, 1366, 1259, 1152, 1066, 1018, 845, 803, 740, 697 cm−1; HRMS (EI): m/z calcd for C41H40CoN2O2Pd: 757.1466 [M+H]+; found 757.1468.

Synthesis of <span class="Chemical">proline adduct (,)-13: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-11 (0.050 g, 0.04 mmol) in acetone (10 mL) was added to a solution of NaHCO3 (0.088 g, 1.04 mmol) and (R)-proline (0.085 g, 0.74 mmol) in water (5 mL). During the addition a copious amount of precipitate was formed. The reaction was vigorously stirred for 16 h at RT and then diluted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was washed with further portions of CH2Cl2 (2×25 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over MgSO4, filtered and solvent was removed in vacuo yielding the crude product. Ratio of (R,Rp)-12/(R,Sp)-13=1:33. Purification by column chromatography eluting with (SiO2, 97:3 CH2Cl2/MeOH) gave exclusively (R,Sp)-13 as an orange/red solid (0.045 g, 81 %). Crystals suitable for X-ray crystallography were obtained by slow diffusion of hexane into CH2Cl2 solution (∼50:1 hexane/CH2Cl2). M.p. 236 °C; [α]=+26 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.78–7.38 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.35–6.99 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.37 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.26 (d, J=1.9 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.11 (br s, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.27 (dd, J=13.7, 8.6 Hz, 1 H, NHCH), 3.10 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 3.06–2.94 (m, 1 H, NHCHH), 2.90–2.78 (m, 1 H, NHCHH), 2.74 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.53 (s, 3 H, CH), 2.36 (s, 3 H, CH), 2.15–1.96 (m, 2 H, CHH and NH), 1.85 (ddt, J=13.3, 8.9, 4.7 Hz, 1 H, CHH), 1.79–1.69 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.43–1.28 ppm (m, 1 H, CHH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=180.42, 136.85, 128.96, 128.39, 126.26, 104.29, 97.65, 84.79, 84.03, 79.69, 73.86, 66.28, 63.57, 53.07, 51.43, 50.79, 29.74, 25.53 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2917, 2849, 2160, 1972, 1655, 1596, 1498, 1446, 1373, 1263, 1113, 1067, 1017, 823, 778, 694 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C41H40O2N2PdCo: 757.1466 [M+H]+; found: 757.1467.

Conversion of (,)-13 into ()-11: Dilute <span class="Chemical">hydrochloric acid (0.64 mL of a 0.5 m solution) was added to a solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(R,Sp)-13 (0.100 g, 0.13 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (2 mL) and the mixture was stirred vigorously for 16 h. The solution was diluted with CH2Cl2 (5 mL) and washed with brine (3×5 mL). The organic layer was collected, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, 4:1 hexanes/EtOAc) gave the product (Sp)-11 as an orange solid (0.073 g, 82 %). M.p. 191 °C (decomp.); [α]=−310 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3), 1:0.9 mixture of isomers: δ=7.77–7.53 (m, 32 H, Ar-H), 7.37–7.09 (m, 48 H, Ar-H), 4.53 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.38 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.33 (br s, 4 H, Cp-H), 4.19 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.09 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.18 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 3.13 (d, J=13.3 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 2.81 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 2.77 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 2.67 (s, 6 H, CH), 2.62 (s, 6 H, CH), 2.19 (s, 6 H, CH), 2.02 ppm (s, 6 H, CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.83, 136.78, 129.42, 129.36, 128.09, 128.06, 125.95, 125.87, 103.09, 102.71, 102.31, 101.91, 85.03, 83.46, 81.07, 80.36, 77.73, 74.84, 74.81, 64.64, 64.55, 53.57, 52.21, 51.87, 51.52 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2886, 1659, 1597, 1498, 1446, 1389, 1352, 1266, 1155, 1067, 1024, 984, 957, 910, 842, 809, 780, 739, 697, 563 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C72H62Cl2Co2N2Pd2: C 63.73, H 4.61, N 2.07; found C 63.75, H 4.55, N 2.16.

Synthesis of di-μ-acetatobis[(η)-,-dimethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">Silver acetate (0.005 g, 0.03 mmol) was added to a solution of (Sp)-11 (0.020 g, 0.02 mmol) in acetone (1 mL). The solution was stirred vigorously, overnight, and then it was filtered through a short pad of Celite, and eluted with CH2Cl2. The solvent was then removed in vacuo to give the product (Sp)-14 as an orange solid (0.020 g, 97 %). M.p. 162–164 °C; [α]=−155 (c=2.6 mg mL−1, in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.71–7.60 (m, 16 H, Ar-H), 7.25–7.14 (m, 24 H, Ar-H), 4.22 (d, J=1.3 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.06 (t, J=2.2 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.02 (br s, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.05 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 2.76 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 2 H, CHHNMe2), 2.30 (s, 6 H, NCH), 2.15 (s, 6 H, 2×O2CCH), 1.71 ppm (s, 6 H, NCH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=179.70, 135.96, 128.15, 126.78, 124.60, 102.08, 100.39, 83.06, 79.13, 74.10, 73.46, 64.11, 52.95, 50.78 24.14 ppm; IR (neat): =3055, 2920, 1577, 1498, 1412, 1261, 1176, 1023, 957, 740, 692, 617 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C76H68Co2N2O4Pd2: C 65.01, H 4.88, N 2.00; found C 65.18, H 4.96, N 2.04.

Synthesis of (: A solution of 8 (0.050 g, 0.09 mmol) and <span class="Chemical">Pd(OAc)2 (0.021 g, 0.09 mmol) in <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">toluene (1 mL) was heated at reflux for 2 h. After being cooled to room temperature the solvent was removed in vacuo to give the product (rac)-14 as an orange solid (0.062 g, 95 %). The spectral data matched that of (Sp)-14.

Synthesis of hexafluor<span class="Chemical">oacetylacetonate[(η)-,-dimethylaminomethyl<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: Sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate (0.007 g, 0.03 mmol) was added to a solution of (Sp)-11 (0.020 g, 0.02 mmol) in acetone/water (2:1 mL). The solution was stirred vigorously for 16 h. On completion, the solution was diluted with CH2Cl2 (5 mL) and washed with water (5 mL). The organic layer was collected, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the product (Sp)-15 as an orange solid (0.012 g, 96 %). M.p. 219 °C; [α]=−160 (c=1.0 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.71–7.47 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.34–7.08 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 5.87 (s, 1 H, CHCO), 4.62 (dd, J=2.3, 1.0 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.50 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.37 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.41 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.92 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.76 (s, 3 H, NCH), 2.48 ppm (s, 3 H, NCH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=174.40 (q, JC−F=8.0 Hz), 174.12 (q, JC−F=7.4 Hz), 136.77, 129.14, 127.92, 126.15, 118.95 (q, JC−F=38.9 Hz), 116.68 (q, JC−F=38.6 Hz), 102.94, 101.83, 90.23, 84.49, 79.55, 75.44, 74.87, 65.71, 53.53, 51.12 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2928, 2160, 1623, 1597, 1545, 1498, 1481, 1458, 1253, 1195, 1144, 1024, 950, 779, 695 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C41H32CoF6NO2Pd⋅2 H2O: C 55.58, H 4.10, N 1.58; found C 55.54, H 3.90, N 1.80. Crystals of (rac)-15 for X-ray analysis, generated in the same way from (rac)-14, were obtained by slow diffusion of hexane into CH2Cl2 solution (∼50:1 hexane/CH2Cl2).

Synthesis of (η,-diethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl)(η: A solution of 20 (0.100 g, 0.20 mmol) and <class="Chemical">span class="Gene">PPh3 (0.051 g, 0.20 mmol) in THF (3 mL) was cooled to −20 °C and NBS (0.035 g, 0.30 mmol) was added in one portion. The mixture was stirred for 10–15 min and Et2NH (20 μL, 0.2 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was then allowed to warm to RT and was then heated at reflux for 1 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT and diluted with CH2Cl2 (15 mL). The mixture was washed with 10 % HCl (10 mL), dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, 19:1 CH2Cl2/MeOH) gave the product 21 a as a yellow solid (0.045 g, 41 %). M.p. 140–142 °C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.52–7.40 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.31–7.18 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.57 (s, 4 H, Cp-H), 2.92 (s, 2 H, CH2NEt2), 2.25 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 4 H, CHCH3), 0.88 ppm (t, J=7.2 Hz, 6 H, CH2CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.34, 128.82, 127.98, 126.19, 84.14, 83.67, 74.74, 49.07, 11.84 ppm; IR (neat): =3057, 2966, 2921, 1597, 1499, 1446, 1068, 1020, 814, 780, 743, 698, 589, 564 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C38H36CoN: 565.2180 [M]+; found 565.2170.

Synthesis of (η: The same method as described for 21 a was followed starting with 20 (0.127 g, 0.25 mmol). The product was isolated by column chromatography (<span class="Chemical">SiO2, 19:1 <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">CH2Cl2/MeOH) to give product 21 b as a yellow solid (0.100 g, 71 %). M.p. 180–182 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.52–7.40 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.31–7.18 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.75–4.70 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.62–4.58 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 2.84 (s, 2 H, CH2NMe2), 2.34–2.26 (m, 4 H, N(CH2CH2)), 1.70–1.64 ppm (m, 4 H, N(CH2CH2)); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.35, 128.92, 128.08, 126.31, 84.06, 83.75, 74.93, 53.68, 52.60, 23.41 ppm; IR (neat): =2924, 1596, 1497, 1446, 1261, 1023, 816, 781, 746, 701, 589, 564 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C38H35CoN: 564.2096 [M+H]+; found 564.2094.

Synthesis of (η: 1,<span class="Chemical">2-Dichloroethane (35 mL) was added to a mixture of 22 (2.61 g, 5.13 mmol) and <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">benzylamine (0.55 g, 5.13 mmol) and then sodium triacetoxyborohydride (1.72 g, 8.12 mmol) was added in one portion. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. On completion, the reaction mixture was quenched by adding saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution (50 mL) and the product was extracted with EtOAc (2×40 mL). The EtOAc extract was dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo to give the crude product, which was purified by column chromatography (SiO2, 19:1 CH2Cl2/EtOAc) to give product 23 as a yellow solid (3.00 g, 4.45 mmol, 97 %). M.p. 145–147 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.43 (dd, J=8.0, 1.4 Hz, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.33–7.11 (m, 17 H, Ar-H), 4.66 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.57 (t, J=1.9 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.52 (s, 2 H, CHPh), 3.13 ppm (s, 2 H, CHNH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.33, 135.43, 129.01, 128.88, 128.14, 128.10, 126.62, 83.68, 82.56, 74.89, 53.56, 45.38 ppm; IR (neat): =3080, 3059, 3028, 2924, 2823, 2246, 1597, 1499, 1449, 1379, 909, 733, 697 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C41H35NCo: 600.2102 [M+H]+; found: 600.2093.

Synthesis of (η: Anhydrous <span class="Chemical">ammonium formate (1.80 g, 28.5 mmol) was added in a single portion to a stirred suclass="Chemical">spension of 23 (3.00 g, 5.00 mmol) and an equal weight of 10 % Pd/C in <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">methanol (20 mL). The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 2 h. On completion, the solution was filtered through a pad of Celite and then washed with chloroform (20 mL). The combined organic filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and purified by column chromatography (SiO2, 3:2 CH2Cl2/EtOAc) to give the product 24 as a yellow solid (1.09 g, 2.05 mmol, 43 %). M.p. 116 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.49–7.42 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.25–7.18 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.63 (t, J=2.0 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.57 (t, J=2.0 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.27 ppm (br s, 2 H, CHNH2); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.22, 128.75, 128.09, 126.37, 83.57, 81.84, 74.85, 53.54 ppm; IR (neat): =3052, 2923, 2162, 1610, 1596, 1573, 1453, 1497, 1453, 1387, 1267, 1231, 1106, 1054 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C34H28NCoNa: 532.1451 [M+Na]+; found: 532.1438.

Synthesis of (η: <span class="Chemical">Iodine (0.006 g, 0.02 mmol) was added to a stirred mixture of 24 (0.610 g, 1.20 mmol) and <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">benzylchloroformate (0.205 g, 1.20 mmol) in 1:1 methanol/dichloromethane (5 mL). After being stirred for 2 h at RT, diethyl ether (10 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was washed with 5 % Na2S2O3 solution (5 mL) and saturated NaHCO3 (5 mL), dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, CH2Cl2/EtOAc 4:1) gave the product as a yellow/brown solid (0.750 g, 97 %). M.p. 88–90 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.45 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.41–7.17 (m, 17 H, Ar-H), 5.03 (s, 2 H, OCH2Ph), 4.63 (br s, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.58 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.31 (br s, 1 H, NHCbz), 3.77 ppm (d, J=5.6 Hz, 2 H, CHNH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=156.23, 136.78, 136.18, 128.77, 128.54, 128.27, 128.09, 127.09, 126.56, 96.05, 83.61, 81.87, 75.04, 69.75, 66.58, 65.46, 54.97 ppm; IR (neat): =3416, 3080, 3059, 3030, 2954, 2247, 1723, 1597, 1499, 1444, 1269, 1026, 735, 697 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C42H35CoNO2: 644.2000 [M+H]+; found: 644.1990.

Synthesis of (η: A stirred suspension of <span class="Chemical">LiAlH4, (0.090 g, 2.37 mmol) in <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">THF (30 mL) was cooled to 0 °C in an ice-water bath. To this was added a solution of 25 (0.700 g, 1.09 mmol) in THF (40 mL) and the mixture was heated to reflux for 1.5 h. After being cooled the reaction was quenched with saturated Na2SO4 solution (5 mL), filtered through a pad of Celite and extracted with EtOAc (2×30 mL). The combined organic extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude solid, which was purified by column chromatography (SiO2, CH2Cl2/EtOAc 7:3) to give the product 26 as yellow solid (0.560 g, 98 %). M.p. 177–179 °C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.45 (dd, J=7.2, 1.9 Hz, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.22–7.26 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.66 (s, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.57 (s, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.07 (s, 2 H, CHNHMe), 2.14 ppm (s, 3 H, NHCH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.29, 128.85, 128.19, 126.45, 84.26, 83.76, 83.64, 82.82, 74.99, 48.34 ppm; IR (neat): =3080, 3028, 2938, 2787, 1597, 1499, 1444, 1025, 909, 733, 697 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C35H31CoN: 524.1778 [M+H]+; found: 524.1789.

Synthesis of di-μ-chlorobis[(η)-,-diethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(R)-N-acetylphenylalanine (0.250 g, 1.21 mmol) and NaOH (0.039 g, 0.98 mmol) in water (15 mL) was added to a solution of Na2Pd2Cl4 (0.263 g, 0.89 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL). The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 8.0 using either aqueous NaOH or HCl as required and the mixture was allowed to stir for 20 min. A solution of 21 a (0.500 g, 0.88 mmol) in 5:1 MeOH/CH2Cl2 (90 mL) was then added in portions over 5 min. The solution was allowed to stir for 16 h at RT. On completion, the reaction mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2 (100 mL) and washed with brine (2×100 mL). The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, 4:1 hexanes/EtOAc) gave the product (Sp)-27 as an orange solid (0.244 g, 39 %), ee=82 % as determined by formation of the proline adducts. M.p. >200 °C (decomp); [α]=−618 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) 1:0.6 mixture of isomers: δ=7.70–7.60 (m, 32 H, Ar-H), 7.29–7.15 (m, 48 H, Ar-H), 4.47 (dd, J=2.3, 1.1 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.32 (t, J=2.2 Hz, 4 H, Cp-H), 4.30–4.27 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.24 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.17 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.29 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 2 H, CHHNEt2), 3.22 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 2 H, CHHNEt2), 2.75 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 4 H, CHHNEt2), 2.68–2.43 (m, 16 H, CHCH3), 1.52 (t, J=7.1, Hz, 6 H, CH2CH), 1.52 (t, J=7.1, Hz, 6 H, CH2CH), 0.92–0.84 ppm (m, 12 H, CH2CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.74, 136.68, 129.32, 129.26, 127.95, 127.92, 129.79, 125.76, 84.27, 82.65, 79.50, 79.44, 77.24, 76.45, 75.55, 60.41, 57.44, 57.28, 55.39, 55.33, 54.32, 53.22, 14.53, 14.22, 10.01, 9.80 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2971, 2929, 1596, 1498, 1444, 1387, 909, 734, 695 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C76H70Cl2Co2N2Pd2: C 64.60, H 4.99, N 1.98; found C 64.70, H 4.89, N 2.04.

Synthesis of <span class="Chemical">proline adducts (,)-29 and (,)-30: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-27 (0.020 g, 0.014 mmol) in acetone (1 mL) was added to a solution of NaHCO3 (0.003 g, 0.04 mmol) and (S)-proline (0.003 g, 0.03 mmol) in water (0.5 mL). During the addition a copious amount of precipitate was formed. The reaction was then vigorously stirred for 16 h at RT and then diluted with CH2Cl2 (5 mL). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was washed with further portions of CH2Cl2 (2×2 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo yielding the product as an orange solid (0.021 g, 95 %). M.p. 206–208 °C; [α]=−104 (c=0.7 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.55 (dd, J=6.6, 3.0 Hz, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.40 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.34 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.13 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.92 (dd, J=15.2, 7.6 Hz, 1 H, NCH), 3.29 (d, J=13.9 Hz, 2 H, 2×CHH), 2.88 (d, J=13.7 Hz, 2 H, 2×CHH), 2.78–2.55 (m, 3 H, 3×CHH), 2.49–2.27 (m, 2 H, 2×CHH), 2.17–2.06 (m, 3 H, CHH), 1.40–1.31 (m, 3 H, CH2CH), 0.94 ppm (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3 H, CH2CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=180.08, 136.79, 129.01, 128.20, 126.21, 84.38 84.0, 81.39, 79.62 74.82, 73.96, 66.17, 58.09, 54.23, 53.31, 52.52, 29.97, 26.07, 13.52, 9.84 ppm; IR (neat): =3453, 2929, 2852, 1725, 1594, 1492, 1446, 1381, 1255, 1179, 1156, 1122, 1071, 1021, 804, 778, 740, 699 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C43H44CoN2O2Pd: 785.1780 [M+H]+; found: 785.1773. Ratio of isomers obtained from integration of signals at 4.40 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 1 H, (S,Sp)-Cp-H) and 4.42 ppm (t, J=2.4 Hz, 1 H, (S,Rp)-Cp-H).

Synthesis of di-μ-chlorobis[(η)-(1-<span class="Chemical">pyrrolidinyl)methyl<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: A solution of (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine (0.251 g, 1.21 mmol) and NaOH (0.039 g, 0.98 mmol) in water (15 mL) was added to a solution of Na2Pd2Cl4 (0.263 g, 0.89 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL). The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 8.0 using either aqueous NaOH or HCl as required and the mixture was allowed to stir for 20 min. A solution of 21 b (0.500 g, 0.89 mmol) in 5: 1 MeOH/CH2Cl2 (90 mL) was then added in portions over 5 min. The solution was allowed to stir for 16 h at RT. On completion, the reaction mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2 (150 mL) and washed with brine (2×100 mL). The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (SiO2, 4:1 hexanes/EtOAc) gave the product (Sp)-28 as an orange solid (0.270 g, 43 %), ee >98 % as determined by formation of the proline adducts M.p. >200 °C (decomp); [α]=−266 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) 1:1 mixture of isomers: δ=7.72–7.63 (m, 32 H, Ar-H), 7.28–7.16 (m, 48 H, Ar-H), 4.53–4.50 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.38–4.35 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.31 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.26 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.23 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.15–4.09 (m, 2 H, Cp-H), 3.44–3.32 (m, 4 H, CpCHHN), 3.08–2.81 (m, 16 H, CpCHHN and NCH), 2.32–2.23 (m, 2 H, NCH), 2.08–2.03 (m, 2 H, NCH), 1.81 (ddd, J=9.3, 6.2, 3.5 Hz, 4 H, NCH2CH), 1.76–1.60 (m, 8 H, NCH2CH), 1.53–1.45 ppm (m, 4 H, NCH2CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.75, 136.68, 129.34, 129.28, 127.94, 125.79, 125.72, 103.20, 102.85, 102.75, 102.31, 84.84, 82.99, 80.55, 79.96, 77.60, 76.71, 75.25, 74.68, 74.66, 60.46, 60.38, 60.28, 60.22, 59.67, 30.95, 22.00, 21.65, 21.55, 21.30 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2966, 1596, 1498, 1443, 909, 734, 695 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C76H66Cl2Co2N2Pd2: C 64.79, H 4.72, N 1.98; found C 64.81, H 4.60, N 2.07.

Synthesis of <span class="Chemical">proline adduct (,)-31: A solution of <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(Sp)-28 (0.020 g, 0.014 mmol) in acetone (2 mL) was added to a solution of NaHCO3 (0.003 g, 0.04 mmol) and (S)-proline (0.003 g, 0.03 mmol) in water (1 mL). During the addition a copious amount of precipitate was formed. The reaction was then vigorously stirred for 16 h at RT and then diluted with CH2Cl2 (5 mL). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was washed with further portions of CH2Cl2 (2×2 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over MgSO4, filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo yielding the product as an orange solid (0.020 g, 90 %). M.p. 206–208 °C; [α]=−37 (c=1.1 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, [D6]DMSO): δ=7.52–7.46 (m, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.28–7.20 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 5.52–5.44 (m, 1 H, NH), 4.36 (s, 2 H, Cp-H), 4.25 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.56 (q, J=7.9 Hz, 1 H, NHCH), 3.19–3.01 (m, 2 H, NHCHH and CpCHHN), 3.01–2.94 (m, 1 H, NHCHH), 2.92–2.84 (m, 1 H, NCH2), 2.79 (d, J=14.5 Hz, 1 H, CpCHHN), 2.35–2.21 (m, 2 H, CH), 2.14–2.04 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.82–1.61 (m, 4 H, CH), 1.44–1.33 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.24–1.16 ppm (m, 2 H, CH); 13C NMR: not obtained due to poor solubility in CDCl3 and [D6]DMSO; IR (neat): =3444, 2925, 2855, 1733, 1623, 1590, 1497, 1459, 1378, 1259, 1170, 1070, 1023, 926, 782, 745, 702 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C43H42CoN2O2Pd: 783.1623 [M+H]+; found: 783.1615.

Synthesis of <span class="Chemical">proline adduct ()-32: Prepared in the same way as <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">(S,Sp)-31 from (Sp)-28 (0.020 g, 0.014 mmol) and (R)-proline (0.003 mg, 0.03 mmol) to give the product as an orange solid (0.011 g, 50 %). M.p. 206–208 °C; [α]=+72 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.69 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 8 H, Ar-H), 7.29–7.26 (m, 12 H, Ar-H), 4.45 (t, J=2.3 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.33 (d, J=2.6 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.20 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.44 (dt, J=11.5, 7.6 Hz, 1 H, NHCH), 3.34 (ddt, J=13.5, 9.1, 4.9 Hz, 2 H, 2×NHCHH), 3.13–2.91 (m, 4 H, CH), 2.71–2.61 (m, 1 H, CHH), 2.47–2.35 (m, 1 H, CHH), 2.18–2.10 (m, 1 H, CHH), 2.05–1.95 (m, 2 H, CH2.), 1.94–1.89 (m, 2 H, CH2), 1.88–1.79 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.78–1.72 (m, 1 H, CHH), 1.64 (br s, 1 H, NH), 1.51–1.38 ppm (m, 1 H, CHH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=180.32, 136.76, 128.87, 128.26, 126.09, 104.56, 97.53, 84.31, 83.78, 79.33, 73.73, 66.13, 59.97, 59.65, 59.13, 52.98, 29.60, 25.44, 22.06, 21.95 ppm; IR (neat): =3444, 2925, 2855, 1733, 1623, 1590, 1497, 1459, 1378, 1259, 1170, 1070, 1023, 926, 782, 745, 702 cm−1; HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C43H42CoN2O2Pd: 783.1623 [M+H]+; found: 783.1614.

Synthesis of chloro[(η)-,-dimethylaminomethyl<span class="Chemical">cyclopentadienyl,1-: 2-(Diphenylphoclass="Chemical">sphino)phenyl<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">ferrocene (0.007 g, 0.016 mmol) was added to a solution of (Sp)-11 (0.010 g, 0.015 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (1 mL) and the solution was stirred for 16 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the product was purified by column chromatography (SiO2, 49:1 CH2Cl2/MeOH) to give the product (Sp)-35 as a red/orange solid (0.015 g, 88 %). Crystals suitable for X-ray crystallography were obtained by slow diffusion of hexane into a CH2Cl2 solution (∼50:1 hexane/CH2Cl2). M.p. 171 °C; [α]=+26 (c=0.5 mg mL−1 in CH2Cl2); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.90–7.80 (m, 2 H, Ar-H), 7.48–7.10 (m, 28 H, Ar-H), 7.00 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1 H, Ar-H), 6.90 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2 H, Ar-H), 6.76 (dd, J=11.1, 7.5 Hz, 1 H, Ar-H), 4.48 (br s, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.36 (br s, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.12 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.07 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 4.00 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.93 (s, 5 H, Cp-H), 3.84 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.22 (s, 1 H, Cp-H), 3.03 (d, J=14.1 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.92 (dd, J=14.0, 2.5 Hz, 1 H, CHHNMe2), 2.65 (s, 3 H, CH), 2.38 ppm (d, J=2.4 Hz, 3 H, CH); 13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl3): δ=136.66, 135.99, 132.84, 130.20, 129.42, 129.06, 128.05, 127.99, 127.95, 127.91, 127.52, 127.44, 125.89, 120.35, 80.82, 77.60, 77.29, 77.03, 76.78, 76.24, 73.82, 69.68, 61.90, 52.06 ppm; 31P NMR (202 MHz, CDCl3): δ=32.22 ppm; IR (neat): =3056, 2923, 1732, 1596, 1497, 1436, 1194, 911, 732, 695, 559 cm−1; elemental analysis calcd (%) for C64H54ClCoFeNPPd: C 68.34, H 4.85, N 1.25; found C 66.35, H 5.05, N 1.46.

General procedure for <span class="Chemical">trans<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cyclopalladation: A mixture of (Sp)-14 (0.030 g, 0.02 mmol) and either 33 (0.019 g, 0.04 mmol) or 34 (0.020 g, 0.04 mmol) were heated in toluene (0.5 mL) under nitrogen for 24 h. After being cooled the solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was re-dissolved in 2:1 acetone/water and sodium acetylacetonate (0.005 g, 0.04 mmol) was added to it. After being stirred at room temperature for 16 h the mixture was diluted with CH2Cl2, washed with water, dried (MgSO4), filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The ee and absolute configuration of 35 and 36 were determined by HPLC (Chiracel OD-H, 99.7:0.3 n-hexane/IPA, 0.8 mL min−1).

General procedure for catalysis: The required amount of imidate stock solution was added to a flask charged with catalyst. If <span class="Chemical">silver salts and/or proton class="Chemical">sponge was used this was subsequently added. The solution was protected from light then heated to the desired temperature for the allotted time. On completion, the solution was passed through a short pad of Celite and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Purification by flash chromatography, eluting with 24:1 <class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">hexanes/EtOAc, yielded the product amide 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(4-methoxyphenyl-N-(1-propylallyl)acetamide (43) as a pale yellow oil. Chiral HPLC analysis was used to determine enantiomeric excess after cleavage of the trifluoroacetate group[5a] (Chiracel OD-H, 99.8:0.2 n-hexane/IPA, 0.8 mL min−1). In the same manner amides 44 a–d were isolated as colourless oils and chiral HPLC analysis was used to determine the enantiomeric excess (Chiracel OD-H, 99.5:0.5 n-hexane/IPA, 0.8 mL min−1).[5b,d]

C<span class="Chemical">CDC-931363 http://www.c<class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cdc.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/catreq.cgi((S,Sp)-12), 931364 http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/catreq.cgi(15) and 931365 http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/catreq.cgi((Sp)-37) contain the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge from The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif.