Axially Chiral Bidentate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Derived from BINAM:  Rhodium and Iridium Complexes in Asymmetric Ketone Hydrosilylation

New bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) and N-heterocyclic carbene−naphthoxy ligands are synthesized in two steps from ( S )-1,1‘-diamino-2,2‘-binaphthyl. Rhodium and iridium complexes of the carbene−naphthoxy ligands were applied to the catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone with diphenylsilane. Low enantioselectivities (12−13% ee) were observed for the rhodium-catalyzed reaction, but moderate enantioselectivities (50−60% ee) were seen for iridium.