Nickel(0)-catalysed asymmetric cross-coupling reactions of allylic compounds with Grignard reagents using optically active oxazolinylferrocenylphosphines as ligands

Abstract

Optically active oxazolinylferrocenylphosphines work effectively as chiral P–N ligands in nickel(0)-catalysed cross-coupling reactions of allylic compounds with Grignard reagents, which are known to behave as “hard” nucleophiles, to give the expected coupling products in high yields and high enantioselectivities (30–100% chemical yield and 14–95% ee). These ligands are revealed to be more effective than optically active oxazolinylphenylphosphines which have only a central chirality.