Efficient planar chiral 2′-substituted 1,1′-P,N-ferrocene ligands for the asymmetric Heck reaction: control of enantioselectivity and configuration by planar chiral substituent

Planar chiral 1,1′P,N-2′-substituted 2′ substituted 1,1′-P,N-ferrocene derivatives were efficient ligands for the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric Heck reaction, in which 79–85% yields with high enantioselectivity (80–92%) were obtained within several hours; the enantioselectivity and the absolute configuration were controllable by changing the size of the planar chiral group and/or configuration of planar chirality.