Polymer-bound bis(oxazoline) as a chiral catalyst

A chiral bis(oxazoline) was grafted on ArgoGel and used in the palladium-catalysed substitution of (±)-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. The enantioselectivity was the same as that observed when the analogous monomeric catalyst was used (94–95% e.e.), despite the fact that the C₂ symmetry of the ligand was affected when coupled to the polymer. The polymer-supported catalyst could be recycled several times after removal of precipitated Pd(0). The polymer-bound bis(oxazoline) was also applied in a zinc-catalysed Diels–Alder reaction but lower selectivity and reactivity than the monomer was observed.