Atropisomeric Chiral Dienes in Asymmetric Catalysis: C2-Symmetric (Z,Z)-2,3-Bis[1-(diphenylphosphinyl)ethylidene]tetralin as a Highly Active Lewis Base Organocatalyst

by Masamichi Ogasawara*, Shunsuke Kotani, Hikaru Nakajima, Haruka Furusho, Mitsuru Miyasaka, Yasushi Shimoda, Wei-Yi Wu, Masaharu Sugiura, Tamotsu Takahashi*, Makoto Nakajima*

Diene catalysts with a twist: The title C₂-symmetric tetralin-fused 1,3-butadiene derivative is atropisomeric and can be resolved into the two helical enantiomers. The optically pure compound showed excellent enantioselectivity as well as unusually high catalytic activity as a chiral Lewis basic organocatalyst in the asymmetric allylation of various aldehydes with β-substituted allyltrichlorosilanes (see scheme).

Angewandte Chemie Internation Edition

Article first published online: 25 OCT 2013

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201308112