Helicene-Based Phosphite Ligands in Asymmetric Transition-Metal Catalysis: Exploring Rh-Catalyzed Hydroformylation and Ir-Catalyzed Allylic Amination

Starting from the optically pure [6]helicene-like alcohol (P,3S)-3-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo-[c]benzo[5,6]phenanthro[4,3-e]oxepin-14-ol, four helical phosphites were prepared from the corresponding chlorophosphites. These ligands containing parent or substituted 1,3,2-dioxaphospholan-2-yl or dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl moieties were applied to the asymmetric hydroformylation of terminal alkenes catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)(2) and the asymmetric allylic amination of cinnamyl-type carbonates catalyzed by [Ir(cod)Cl](2). The helical phosphite containing the dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl group was most successful in the asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene, leading to moderate enantiomeric excess values (up to 32% ee), high regioselectivity in favor of the branched product, and mostly high conversion, whereas the helical ligand containing the 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholan-2-yl fragment was most effective in asymmetric allylic aminations, exhibiting high enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee), excellent regioselectivity in favor of the branched products, and good reactivity. This study represents the first use of helicene-like ligands in asymmetric reactions, including hydroformylation and allylic amination, and the promising results indicate the potential of the helicene moieties as chiral inductors.