P(III)-Directed Asymmetric C–H Arylation toward Planar Chiral Ferrocenes by Palladium Catalysis

Planar chiral ferrocenyl phosphines have been employed as highly valuable ligands in metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions. However, their preparation remains a formidable challenge due to the requirement for intricate, multistep synthetic sequences. In addressing this issue, we have developed a groundbreaking enantioselective C-H activation strategy facilitated by P(III) directing groups, enabling the efficient construction of planar chiral ferrocenyl phosphines in a single step. Our innovative approach entails the combination of a palladium catalyst, a parent ferrocenyl phosphine, and a chiral phosphoramidite ligand, leading to exceptional reactivity and enantioselectivity. Remarkably, these novel ligands exhibit remarkable efficacy in silver-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. We carried out a combination of experimental and computational studies to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the reaction pathway and the factors contributing to enantioselectivity.