Chiral biphenyl diphosphines for asymmetric catalysis: Stereoelectronic design and industrial perspectives

Two original chiral diphosphines, SYNPHOS and DIFLUORPHOS, have been synthesized on multigram scales. Their steric and electronic profiles have been established in comparison with the commonly used 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl and 6,6'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-biphenyl ligands. A screening study of the four ligands in Ru(II)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones and olefins has been performed. It revealed that the stereoelectronic features of the ligand and the substrate deeply influenced the enantioselectivities obtained in asymmetric hydrogenation, SYNPHOS and DIFLUORPHOS being fully complementary in terms of enantioselectivity for this reaction.