Atroposelective Sulfenylation of Biaryl Anilines Catalyzed by Chiral SPINOL-Derived Selenide

The atroposelective electrophilic sulfenylation of biaryl anilines has been realized for the first time. The reaction is enabled by a new chiral 6,6'-dianisole substituted SPINOL-derived selenide. A variety of axially chiral sulfur-containing biaryl aniline compounds were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities. The experimental results suggest that catalyst rigidity is important for the high atroposelectivity.