ClickFerrophos: New Chiral Ferrocenyl Phosphine Ligands Synthesized by Click Chemistry and the Use of Their Metal Complexes as Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Allylic Substitution

The new ferrocenyl P,P- and P,N-ligands 5 and 6 (collectively, “ClickFerrophos”) were readily prepared in four steps using Click Chemistry methodology, starting from the commercially available aminoferrocene 1. Rhodium and ruthenium complexes of ClickFerrophos 5 were effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and ketones, respectively, producing products with up to 99.7% ee. The analogous palladium complex with 6 worked well for asymmetric allylic alkylation.