A Novel Class of Nonbiaryl Atropisomeric P,O-Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation^†

A novel class of nonbiaryl atropisomeric P,O-ligands possessing an N,N-dialkyl-1-naphthamide skeleton has been synthesized via an efficient chemical resolution process. It represents the first example of axially chiral P,O-ligands devoid of central chirality. Up to 94.7% ee was obtained for the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA). Effects of solvent, base, and the bulk of the C8 oxygen group of the P,O-ligand on the AAA reaction were examined.