Planar Chiral [2.2]Paracyclophane-Based Bisoxazoline Ligands: Design, Synthesis, and Use in Cu-Catalyzed Inter- and Intramolecular Asymmetric O–H Insertion Reactions

Centrally chiral bisoxazolines connected directly to a planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane backbone were synthesized and evaluated as asymmetric ligands in Cu-catalyzed intermolecular ethanolic O–H insertion reactions of α-diazo esters. The reactivities and enantioselectivities of Cu complexes of the synthesized bisoxazoline ligands were lower than those of ligands without central chirality. However, planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane-based bisoxazoline ligands with an inserted benzene spacer that had a sterically demanding isopropyl substituent showed good enantioselectivities in inter- and intramolecular aromatic O–H insertion reactions, without the aid of central chirality.