Planar-chiral cyclopalladated ferrocenyl amines and imines as enantioselective catalysts for allylic imidate rearrangements

Abstract A series of enantiopure cyclopalladated ferrocenyl amines and imines were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the [3,3]-rearrangement of allylic benzimidates to allylic benzamides. Yields and extent of enantioselection were found to be highly dependent upon the counter-ion, with a high of 78% yield and 73% ee being realized under optimum conditions.