Development of diamidophosphite ligands and their application to the palladium-catalyzed vinyl-substituted trimethylenemethane asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric 3 + 2] cycloaddition of a vinyl-substituted trimethylenemethane (TMM) donor with α,β-unsaturated acyl imidazoles is described. A newly designed bisdiamidophosphite ligand derived from (S,S)-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and (2R,4R)-pentanediol has been instrumental for the development of this process. This transformation generates tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes bearing three contiguous stereocenters in high yields, with good diastereo- and enantioselectivity.