Development of a new class of chiral phosphorus ligands: P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxides. A unique source of enantioselection in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric construction of quaternary carbons

[reaction: see text] We have recently developed a new class of chiral phosphorus ligands: P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxides. These pentavalent phosphorus compounds have been successfully applied to Pd-catalyzed asymmetric construction of tertiary and quaternary carbons. The actual ligand structure was the trivalent phosphorus species 17, which was generated in situ by BSA-induced P(V) to P(III) transformation of 6, the preligand. Detailed mechanistic studies, including asymmetric amplification and initial rate kinetics, revealed that complex 18 [Pd-17 (1:2) complex] was the active catalyst. The important function of the nitrogen atom on the sidearm in the ligands was also clarified. The source of enantioselection in the construction of asymmetric quaternary carbons was the secondary ligand substrate interaction mediated by N-Zn coordination.