A Ruthenium/Phosphoramidite-Catalyzed Asymmetric Interrupted Metallo-ene Reaction

Allylic chlorides prepared from commercially available trans-1,4-dichloro-2-butene were converted to trans-disubstituted 5- and 6-membered ring systems with perfect diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity under chiral ruthenium catalysis. These products contain stereodefined secondary and tertiary alcohols that originate from the trapping of an alkylruthenium intermediate with adventitious water. Key to the success of this transformation was the development of a new BINOL-based phosphoramidite ligand containing bulky substitution at its 3- and 3'-positions. As a demonstration of product utility, diastereoselective Friedel-Crafts reactions were performed on the chiral benzylic alcohols in high yield and stereoselectivity.