Pyroglutamate-derived hydroxyamide ligands: synthesis and application to asymmetric catalysis

The synthesis of a series of chiral hydroxy amide ligands is described. These ligands were used in a ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reaction where one ligand gave the product in 72% ee. The ligands were also used in two titanium-catalysed reactions, an alkylation where ee's of up to 74% were achieved and a phenyl acetylene addition where more modest selectivities were observed.