Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes with novel chiral P,N-ligands derived from 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-d-mannitol

Several new chiral P,N-ligands were prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-d-mannitol, 1,1′-binaphthol, and phenyl isocyanate derivatives. Their Rh(I) complexes were applied as catalyst precursors in the asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes. The steric and electronic properties of the phenylcarbamate substituents and the chiral binaphthyl moiety showed remarkable effects on the enantioselectivity and regioselectivity of the reaction. The matching combination of phenylcarbamate and the binaphthyl moiety of the ligand 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-3-phenylcarbamate-4-[(S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]phosphite-d-mannitol gave 50% ee and an 89/11 b/n ratio (branch-to-normal ratio). A synergic effect between the chiralities of mannitol and the binaphthol moieties was observed. Hydroformylation of the styrene gave the product in 75% ee when 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-3,4-bis[(R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]phosphite-d-mannitol was used as the chiral ligand.

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