Asymmetric allylic substitutions on symmetrical and non-symmetrical substrates using [5]ferrocenophane ligands

A series of 5]ferrocenophane diphosphane ligands were used in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions. With a symmetrical substrate, 1,3-diphenylpropenyl acetate, enantioselectivities between 70% and 94% ee were observed. Several non-symmetrically substituted allylic substrates were also used. Depending on the substituents of the non-symmetrical allylic substrates, various degrees of regioselectivity (from 1:1 to 100:0) and enantioselectivity (from 0% to 96% ee) were observed. Tentative catalytically active complexes were studied by DFT computational methods.