Synthesis of a Novel C2-Symmetric Bis-oxazoline (=Bis[4,5-dihydrooxazole]) and Its Application as Chiral Ligand in Asymmetric Transition Metal Catalysis

Abstract

The new C2-symmetric bis-oxazoline (=bis[4,5-dihydrooxazole]) 2 with a chiral trans-(2R,3R)-2,3-bis(3,5-diphenylphenyl)cyclopropylidene (=trans-(2R,3R)-2,3-bis([1,1':?3',1?-terphenyl]-5'-yl)cyclopropylidene) backbone was efficiently synthesized (Scheme). All synthetic steps were easy to perform and led to the desired product in good overall yields. Compound 2 was tested and compared as ligand in several enantioselective catalytic reactions such as palladium(0)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylations and copper(I)-catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanations and aziridinations.