Diastereoselective synthesis of atropisomers containing two non-biaryl stereogenic axes: stereochemical relay through stereogenic centres in dihydrostilbene-2,2′-dicarboxamides

Addition of laterally lithiated tertiary aromatic amides to benzaldimines controls the formation of a new stereogenic centre adjacent to the benzaldimine aromatic ring. Drawing on the fact that such amino-substituted stereogenic centres may themselves control the conformation of amides, with amido-substituted benzaldimines we found it becomes possible to relay stereochemistry from one amide to another via this intervening stereogenic centre. A group of dihydrostilbene-2,2′-dicarboxamide derivatives bearing one or two stereogenic axes are made by this method, which demonstrates the use of combined kinetic and thermodynamic control for the relay of stereochemical information.