Effective Chiral Ferrocenyl Phosphine-Thioether Ligands in Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylations

Chiral ferrocene-derived phosphine-thioether mixed donor ligands supported by heterocycles effected the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylations with excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee). With cyclic and unsymmetrical allylic acetates as substrate, the corresponding alkylated products with enantioselectivities up to 87% ee were obtained. Based on X-ray crystallographic and NMR studies, the origin of the observed enantioselectivities is discussed.