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

The design and synthesis of two novel pyrazine-containing ligands, 3,6-diisopropyl-Pyrazinap and Np-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.

Automated summary

Two novel pyrazine-containing ligands were designed and synthesized, and showed high reactivity and selectivity in palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reactions. The solution structures and dynamic behaviour of palladium complexes were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic experiments.