A series of bulky, modular, monodentate, fenchol‐based phosphites has been employed in an intramolecular palladium‐catalyzed alkyl‐aryl cross‐coupling reaction. This enantioselective α‐arylation of N‐(2‐bromophenyl)‐N‐methyl‐2‐phenylpropanamide is accomplished with [Pd(C3H5)(BIFOP‐X)(Cl)] as precatalysts, which are based on biphenyl‐2,2′‐bisfenchol phosphites (BIFOP‐X, X=F, Cl, Br, etc.). The phosphorus fluoride BIFOP‐F gives the highest enantioselectivity and good yields (64% ee, 88%). Lower selectivities and yields are found for BIFOP halides with heavier halogens (Cl: 74%, 47% ee, Br: 63%, 20% ee). NMR studies on catalyst complexes reveal two equilibrating diastereomeric complexes in equal proportions. In all cases, the phosphorus‐halogen moiety remains intact, pointing to its remarkable stability, even in the presence of nucleophiles. The increasing enantioselectivity of the catalysts with the phosphorus halide ligands correlates with the rising electronegativity of the halide (bromine<chlorine<fluorine), as can be rationalized from structural parameters and DFT computations.

SummaryTwo chlorophosphites, the biphenyl-based BIFOP–Cl and the diphenyl ether-based O–BIFOP–Cl, exhibit striking differences regarding their reaction with water. While BIFOP–Cl is nearly completely unreactive, its oxo-derivative O–BIFOP–Cl reacts instantly with water, yielding a tricyclic hydrocarbon unit after rearrangement. The analysis of the crystal structure of O–BIFOP–Cl and BIFOP–Cl revealed that the large steric demand of encapsulating fenchane units renders the phosphorus atom nearly inaccessible by nucleophilic reagents, but only for BIFOP–Cl. In addition to the steric effect, a hypervalent P(III)–O interaction as well as an electronic conjugation effect causes the high reactivity of O–BIFOP–Cl. A DFT study of the hydrolysis in BIFOP–Cl verifies a higher repulsive interaction to water and a decreased leaving tendency of the chloride nucleofuge, which is caused by the fenchane units. This high stability of BIFOP–Cl against nucleophiles supports its application as a chiral ligand, for example, in Pd catalysts.