Matching the Chirality of Monodentate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: A Case Study on Well-Defined Palladium Complexes for the Asymmetric α-Arylation of Amides

N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from C2-symmetric diamines with naphthyl side chains are introduced as chiral monodentate ligands, and their palladium complexes (NHC)Pd(cin)Cl are prepared. These compounds exist as a mixture of diastereomers, and the palladium complexes can be successfully separated and their absolute stereochemistry assigned. When used in the asymmetric intramolecular α-arylation of amides, oxindoles with quaternary carbon centers can be obtained in high yield and selectivity when correctly matching the chirality of the NHC complexes.