Phosphine-phosphoramidites (PPAs) are heterobidentate ligands that have been developed in the last two decades and have been used successfully in asymmetric catalytic reactions. A single crystal of the PPA (11bS)-N-[(2S,4S)-4-(diphenylphosphanyl)pentan-2-yl]-N-methyldinaphtho[2,1-d:1',2'-f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-4-amine, C38H35NO2P2, was prepared and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Structure elucidation revealed unique features which might have a significant effect in the excellent chemical stability of this type of molecule. The conformation of the molecule provides an optimal chelating structure. Iridium complexes of UPPhos were found to be efficient catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogenation of imines {UPPhos is (11bS)-N-[(2S,4S)-4-(diphenylphosphanyl)pentan-2-yl]-N-(propan-2-yl)dinaphtho[2,1-d:1',2'-f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-4-amine}.
Keywords: DFT; PPA; asymmetric catalytic reaction; computational chemistry; crystal structure; iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation; phosphine–phosphoramidite; through-space coupling.