Enantioselective synthesis of platinum group metal complexes with the chiral PCP pincer ligand R,R-{C6H4-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2}. The crystal structure of R,R-PdCl{C6H3-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2}

The novel PCP chiral ligand R,R-{C6H4-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2} and its platinum metal complexes have been easily synthesized in enantiomeric pure form. The palladium compound R,R-PdCl{C6H3-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2} has been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis thus confirming the absolute configuration of the complexated ligand. Preliminary catalytic experiments with the iridium and palladium complexes R,R-IrH4{C6H3-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2} and R,R-PdCl{C6H3-2,6-(CH2P*PhBut)2} in the dehydrogenation of cycloalkanes and in the hydrosilylation of styrene, allylic alkylation and Heck coupling reactions, respectively have been carried out.