Stereoselective Synthesis and Complexation of a New Chiral Hybrid Phosphine-Phosphine Oxide Ligand from (S)-(+)-Prolinol

Abstract

The synthesis and the complex formation of chiral heterotopic ligands with two different binding sites each capable of bonding a different type of metal are described. The action of bis(dimethylamino) aryl phosphine on (S)-(+)-prolinol gives rise to the kinetic stereoisomer (2S,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine 1 and the thermodynamic stereoisomer (2R,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine 2. 1 is then totally converted into 2 at the end of the reaction. The Michaelis Arbuzov reaction of 2 with benzylbromide affords (R_p)-benzylaryl-(2-(S)-bromomethyl pyrrolidine-1-yl) phosphine oxide 3 in 80% yield. Compound 3 is an ideal chiral precursor for the synthesis of chiral hybrid phosphine-phosphine oxide ligands. The bromide atom is smoothly displaced by lithium diphenylphosphide to afford in 80% yield (R_p)-benzylaryl-(2-(S)-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine-1-yl) phosphine oxide 5. These reaction are proved to be totally stereoselective : the Michaelis Arbuzov reaction does not change the configuration at C2 in the proline ring. The relative configuration (R_p) of 5 (aryl = phenyl) was determinated by X-ray diffraction, from the known configuration of (S)-(+)-prolinol.