Chiral palladacycle promoted asymmetric synthesis of functionalized bis-phosphine monoxide ligand

An organopalladium complex containing orthometalated (R)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary has been used to promote the asymmetric hydroalkoxylation reactions between weak nucleophile methanol and 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene or 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene monoxide in good regio- and stereo-selectivities in the presence of an external base. The major addition product obtained from methanol and 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene monoxide was subsequently isolated in a quantitative yield in its configurationally pure form and characterized by means of two-dimensional rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser enhancement (ROESY) NMR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The enantiomerically pure bis-phosphine monoxide ligand was subsequently liberated in high yield.