Constructing a Quantitative Correlation between N-Substituent Sizes of Chiral Ligands and Enantioselectivities in Asymmetric Addition Reactions of Diethylzinc with Benzaldehyde

Using the asymmetric addition reaction of diethylzinc with benzylaldehyde as a model, we have demonstrated that excellent correlations exist between steric reference parameters (Charton and Sterimol values) for appropriate sets of substituents present on chiral 1,2-aminophosphoramide ligands and the enantiomeric ratios of alcohol products produced in this process.