The Preparation and Resolution of Novel Axially Chiral Pyrazine‐Containing P,N Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis and Their Application in Palladium‐Catalysed Allylic Substitution

Abstract

Dedicated with respect and admiration to Peter Kündig, a gentleman and an inspirational chemist, on the occasion of his 75th birthdayThe design and synthesis of two novel pyrazine-containing ligands, 3,6-diisopropyl-Pyrazinap and NpÀ Cy-Pyrazinap, has been described. Their synthesis was accomplished in six and nine steps, respectively, in which the key steps were the formation of the biaryl linkage through a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction and the formation of the aryl to phosphorus bond employing nickel catalysis. Both ligands were resolved through the formation of diastereomeric palladacycles and in the case of the isolated diastereomer formed from 3,6-diisopropyl-Pyrazinap, an X-ray crystal structure showed the axial chirality to possess (S)-configuration. The two enantiopure ligands were applied to the palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate and afforded conversions of up to 100 % and 99 % with enantioselectivities of up to 92 % ee and 78 % ee, respectively. A series of 1,1,3-triphenylallyl and 1,3-diphenylallyl palladium complexes were prepared and their solution structures and dynamic behaviour elucidated by 2D-COSY and NOESY NMR spectroscopic experiments.