Syntheses,Structures, and Catalytic Reactions of Palladium Adducts of Chiral Diphosphines That Contain a Rhenium Stereocenter in the Backbone

Reactions of the title diphosphines (η⁵‐C₅H₄PPh₂)Re(NO)(PPh₃)((CH₂)_nPPh₂)] (n=0, (R)‐ 1 ; n=1, racemic or (S)‐ 2 ) with PdCl₂(PhCN)₂] give the palladium/rhenium chelate complexes (η⁵‐C₅H₄PPh₂)Re(NO)(PPh₃)((μ‐CH₂)_nPPh₂)PdCl₂] (n=0, (S)‐ 5 ; n=1, racemic or (S)‐ 6 ) in 75–92% yield. The crystal structure of racemic 6 shows a twisted‐boat conformation of the chelate ring, giving a chiral pocket very different from that in a related rhodium chelate. However, NOE experiments suggest a similar ensemble of conformations in solution. Catalysts are generated from various combinations of a) Pd(OAc)₂ and (R)‐ 1 or (S)‐ 2 (1 : 2), b) (S)‐ 5 or (S)‐ 6 and (R)‐ 1 or (S)‐ 2 (1 : 2), or c) (i‐Bu)₂AlH with the preceding recipes. These factors effect the Heck arylation of 2,3‐dihydrofuran with phenyl trifluoromethylsulfonate. In contrast to analogous reactions with (R)‐binap (=(R)‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthalene), the major product 2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran is nearly racemic (≤12% ee).