Synthesis of a Class of Chiral-Bridged Phosphoramidite Ligands and Their Applications in the First Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Isatins

A series of novel chiral phosphoramidite ligands based on chiral-bridged biphenyl backbones have been prepared conveniently and characterized. The ligands complexed with [IrCodCl](2) provided the first iridium catalyst system for the asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to N-protected isatins with high efficiency. When performed in THF/H2O at 80 degrees C with 2 equiv of the arylboronic acids, the transformations acquired good to excellent results (up to 98% yield and 95% ee).