Novel ligands based on bromosubstituted hydroxycarbonyl [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives: synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis

New planar-chiral hydroxycarbonyl [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives, 4-acetyl-13-bromo-5-hydroxy[2.2]paracyclophane (Br-АНРС, 63%) and 4-benzoyl-13-bromo-5-hydroxy[2.2]paracyclophane (Br-BHPC, 53%), were synthesized and reacted with the enantiomers of α-phenylethylamine to form corresponding Schiff bases, 12-bromo-4-hydroxy-5[1-(1-phenyl-ethylimino)-ethyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane and 12-bromo-4-hydroxy-5[1-(1-phenyl-ethylimino)-(phenyl)methylen-[2.2]paracyclophane. The diastereomers of the imines were resolved and their absolute configurations and consequently the corresponding configurations of the enantiomers of Br-АНРС were determined by X-ray diffraction. Enantiomerically pure Schiff bases were applied as ligands to form catalysts for the enantioselective addition reaction of diethylzinc with benzaldehyde where 1-phenylpropanol was obtained with 77–91% ee.