Biaryl diphosphine ligands and their ruthenium complexes: Preparation and use for catalytic hydrogenation of ketones

Abstract

Procedures for the preparation of the nucleophilic diphosphine ligands (R)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine) ((R)-Ph-Garphos, 2a) and (S)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine) ((S)-Ph-Garphos, 2b) were described. The ligands were used to prepare the ruthenium(II) Ph-Garphos complexes, chloro(p-cymene)(R)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetraamethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) chloride ([RuCl(p-cymene)(R)-Ph-Garphos]Cl (3)) and chloro(p-cymene)(S)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetraamethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) chloride ([RuCl(p-cymene)(S)-Ph-Garphos]Cl (4)). In the presence of the chiral diamine co-ligands (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine (R,R-DPEN) and (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine (S,S-DPEN), complexes 3 and 4 were found to be catalyst precursors for the enantioselective reduction of aryl ketones under mild conditions (room temperature and 3–4 atm of H2). The chiral alcohols were isolated in moderate to good yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 93%. The ruthenium complexes chloro(p-cymene)(R)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-phosphine)ruthenium(II) chloride ([RuCl(p-cymene)(R)-Xyl-Garphos]Cl (5)) and chloro(p-cymene)(S)-(4,4′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-phosphine)ruthenium(II) chloride ([RuCl(p-cymene)(S)-Xyl-Garphos]Cl (6)) were also prepared and used as catalyst precursors for the hydrogenation of aryl ketones in the presence of (R,R)-DPEN and (S,S)-DPEN. Significant improvements in the enantioselectivities of the alcohols (up to 98% ee.) were afforded. A combination of 6 and (S,S)-DPEN afforded (R)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethanol in 89% yield and with 95% ee which was shown to be a suitable precursor for the preparation of (S)-rivastigmine.