Diastereoselective Synthesis of P‐Chirogenic and Atropisomeric 2,2′‐Bisphosphino‐1,1′‐binaphthyls Enabled by Internal Phosphine Oxide Directing Groups

Diphosphine ligands that merge both axial and P‐centered chirality may exhibit superior or unique properties. Herein we report the diastereoselective introduction of P‐centered chirality at the 2‐position of the axially chiral 2′‐(phosphine oxide)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl scaffold. A lithium–bromide exchange reaction of a 2‐bromo‐2′‐(phosphine oxide)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl and treatment with dichlorophosphines followed by a nucleophilic organometallic reagent afforded unsymmetrical 2‐phosphino‐2′‐(phosphine oxide)‐1,1′‐binaphthyls with binaphthyl axial chirality and one or two phosphorus stereocenters with a variety of P substituents. The final diastereomerically pure 2,2′‐bisphosphino‐1,1′‐binaphthyls were obtained by reduction of the phosphine oxide directing group. Preliminary results demonstrated that a ligand with this hybrid chirality could induce higher stereoselectivity in the metal‐complex‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a dialkyl ketone.