Application of a new bicyclic triaminophosphine ligand in Pd-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig amination reactions of aryl chlorides, bromides, and iodides

The new bicyclic triaminophosphine ligand P(i-BuNCH2)3CMe (3) has been synthesized in three steps from commercially available materials and its efficacy in palladium-catalyzed reactions of aryl halides with an array of amines has been demonstrated. Electron-poor, electron-neutral, and electron-rich aryl bromides, chlorides, and iodides participated in the process. The reactions encompassed aromatic amines (primary or secondary) and secondary amines (cyclic or acyclic). It has also been shown that the weak base Cs2CO3 can be employed with ligand 3, allowing a variety of functionalized substrates (e.g., those containing esters and nitro groups) to be utilized in our amination protocols. This ligand provides a remarkably general, efficient, and mild palladium catalyst for aryl iodide amination. Although 3 is slightly air and moisture sensitive, easy procedures can be adopted that avoid the need of a glovebox. Comparisons of the efficacy of 3 in these reactions with that of the proazaphosphatrane P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N (2) reveal that in addition to the opportunity for transannulation in 2 (but not in 3), other significant stereoelectronic contrasts exist between these two ligands which help account for differences in the activities of the Pd/2 and Pd/3 catalytic systems.