Synthesis of the new chiral tridentate ligand bis(pyrid-2-ylethyl) menthylphosphine and its use in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations

We describe the synthesis of a new asymmetric P,N,N′-tridentate ligand (bis(pyrid-2-ylethyl) menthylphosphine, BPEMP), containing two pyridyl rings and (1S,2R,5S)-menthylphosphino group. The ligand is obtained in five steps from natural abundant l-menthol. The coordination behavior of the ligand toward cationic (allylic)Pd(II) moiety and its first application in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation are presented. Crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses reveal that [(η3-allylic)Pd(BPEMP)]+ complex forms only one isomer in the solid state as well as in solution.

Graphical abstractA new asymmetric P,N,N′-tridentate ligand (bis(pyrid-2-ylethyl) menthylphosphine, BPEMP), containing two pyridyl rings and (1S,2R,5S)-menthylphosphino group, is obtained in five steps from natural abundant l-menthol. Asymmetric allylic alkylation of a symmetrically (E)-1,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxyprop-1-ene is accomplished by Pd-BPEMP catalyst with enantiomeric excess up to 53% ee.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide