The preparation and resolution of 2-(2-pyridyl)- and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap and their application in palladium-catalysed allylic substitution

The preparation and resolution of two new axially chiral quinazoline-containing phosphinamine ligands, 2-(2-pyridyl)Quinazolinap and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap, is described. The ligands were synthesised in good yield over eight steps and included two Pd-catalysed reactions, a Suzuki coupling to form the biaryl linkage and the introduction of the diphenylphosphino group, as the key transformations. The racemic ligands were resolved via the fractional crystallisation of diastereomeric palladacycles derived from (+)-di-mu-chlorobis {(R)-dimethyl[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]aminato-C-2,N}dipalladium (II) X-ray crystal structures of the (S,R)-2-pyridyl- and (S,R)-2pyrazinyl-palladacycles are included. Displacement of the resolving agent by reaction with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane gave enantiopure 2-(2-pyridyl)-Quinazolinap and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap, new atropisomeric phosphinamine ligands for asymmetric catalysis. These ligands were applied in the palladium-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate resulting in moderate conversions and enantioselectivities of up to 81%. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.