Chiral [Iminophosphoranyl]ferrocenes: Synthesis, Coordination Chemistry, and Catalytic Application

A series of new chiral [iminophosphoranyl]ferrocenes, {${\eta}^5-C_5H_4-(PPh_2=N-2,6-R_2-C_6H_3)$}Fe{${\eta}^5-C_5H_3-1-PPh^2-2-CH(Me)NMe_2$} (1: R = Me, $^iPr$), {${\eta}^5{-C_5H_4-(PPh_2=N-2,6-R_2}^1-C_6H_3)$}Fe{${\eta}^5-C_5H_3-1-(PPh_2=N-2,6-R_2-C_6H_3)-2-CH(Me)R_2$} (2: $R^1\;=\;Me,\;^iPr;\;R^2\;=\;NMe_2$, OMe), and $({\eta}^5-C_5H_5)Fe${${\eta}^5-C_5H_4-1-PR_2-2-CH(Me)N=PPh_3$} (3:R = Ph, $C_6H_{11}$) have been prepared from the reaction of [1,1'-diphenylphosphino-2-(N,N-dimethylamino) ethyl]ferrocene with arylazides (1 & 2) and the reaction of phosphine dichlorides ($R_3PCl_{2}$) with [1,1'-diphenylphosphino-2-aminoethyl]ferrocene (3), respectively. They form palladium complexes of the type $[Pd(C_3H_5)(L)]BF_4$ (4-6: L = 1-3), where the ligand (L) adopts an ${\eta}^2-N,N\;(2)\;or\;{\eta}^2$-P,N (3) as expected. In the case of 1, a potential terdentate, an ${\eta}^2$-P,N mode is realized with the exclusion of the –=NAr group from the coordination sphere. Complexes 4-6 were employed as catalysts for allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylallyl acetate leading to an almost stoichiometric product yield with modest enantiomeric excess (up to 74% ee). Rh(I)-complexes incorporating 1-3 were also prepared in situ for allylic alkylation of cinnamyl acetate as a probe for both regio- and enantioselectivities of the reaction. The reaction exhibited high regiocontrol in favor of a linear achiral isomer regardless of the ligand employed.