Toward a Catalytic Atroposelective Synthesis of Diaryl Ethers Through C(sp2)–H Alkylation with Nitroalkanes

Herein we report studies towards a small molecule catalytic approach to access atropisomeric diaryl ethers that proceeds via a C(sp ²)-H alkylation using nitroalkanes as the alkyl source. A quaternary ammonium salt derived from quinine containing a sterically hindered urea at the C-9 position was found to effect atroposelective C(sp ²)-H alkylation with moderate to good enantioselectivities across several naphthoquinone-containing diaryl ethers. Products can then be isolated in greater than 95:5 er after one round of trituration. For several substrates that were evaluated we observed a 'nitroethylated' product in similar yields and selectivities.