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An enantioselective asymmetric 1,4-addition of diarylphosphines to linear α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated dienones was developed. A series of chiral PCP-and PCN-transition-metal (Pd, Pt and Ni) pincers, themselves prepared catalytically via asymmetric hydrophosphination, were sequentially screened to reveal the roles of backbone architecture and metal ion in catalyst design. The selected ester-functionalized PCP-palladium pincer afforded the chiral 1,4-phosphine adducts in excellent yields with up to >99% ee. The same catalyst when utilized for the hydrophosphination of an α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated malonate ester also revealed the critical role played by the ester functionality on the ligand backbone in dictating the enantioselectivity of the 1,6-adduct.

The impact of the structural attributes of chiral PC- and PCP-palladium catalysts was investigated in the asymmetric hydrophosphination of various heterocycle-functionalized enone substrates. Due to the architecture of the catalysts, they are confronted with potential catalyst deactivation arising from the coordination of the electron-rich heteroatoms (P, O, N and S) to the metal center. A systematic variation of the location and identity of the heteroatoms demonstrated the impact of structural modifications on the substrates, which have a significant influence on both yields (16-99%) and enantioselectivities (0-99%). A detailed discussion on the distinct catalytic mechanisms (intra- vs. inter-molecular addition) provides important information to explain the results obtained.

A catalytic asymmetric hydroarsination reaction of an activated alkene viz. (E)-nitrostyrene was developed using chiral PCP Pt-, Pd- and Ni-pincer complexes as catalysts. The corresponding chiral tertiary arsine adduct was obtained in ees of up to 80% under mild reaction conditions using the PCP Ni-Cl pincer catalyst. The arsine adduct was furnished with catalyst loadings of 1-5 mol% and the reaction duration ranging from <5 min to 180 min. The subsequent coordination of the hydroarsination product to gold(i) chloride allowed for the confirmation of the stereochemistry of the arsine adduct via crystallographic analysis.

Optically-pure aliphatic N–C(sp3)–E Pd pincer complexes with C-stereogenic centers were synthesized via stepwise (1) enantioselective catalytic hydrophosphination, (2) P(iii) → P(v) oxidation and (3) diastereoselective C(sp3)–H activation.