An integrated immobilization strategy manipulates dual active centers to boost enantioselective tandem reactions

Manipulation of dual active centers via an integrated immobilization strategy can overcome the restriction of homogeneous catalysis in a sequential organic transformation. Herein, by utilizing hollow-shell-structured silica, hydrogen-bonding immobilization via a ship-in-a-bottle synthesis locks a Pd(carbene) center in a nanocage and covalent-bonding immobilization tethers chiral Ru(diamine) centers within the nanochannels, constructing a hetero-bifunctional catalyst. The benefit of this dual center manipulation enables a challenging Suzuki coupling-asymmetric transfer hydrogenation tandem reaction, and the advantage of this process provides various chiral biarylols with enhanced reactivity and enantioselectivity.