A supramolecularly tunable chiral diphosphine ligand: application to Rh and Ir-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

Chem Sci. 2016 Jul 1;7(7):4594-4599. doi: 10.1039/c6sc00589f. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Abstract

A supramolecularly tunable chiral bisphosphine ligand bearing two pyridyl-containing crown ethers, (-) or (+)-Xyl-P16C6-Phos, was fabricated and utilized in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino acid esters and Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (90-99% ee). Up to a 22% enhancement in enantioselectivity was achieved by the addition of certain amounts of alkali ions (Li+, Na+ or K+), which could be selectively recognized and effectively complexed by the crown ethers on the chiral Xyl-P16C6-Phos.