AraBOX and XyliBOX based catalysts for cyclopropanations, Diels Alder cycloadditions and allylic additions

Abstract The syntheses of three novel chiral 4,4′BOX ligands are described. The three ligands each have a chiral backbone and chiral sidearms, two of which are diastereomeric. These new ligands have been applied as copper complexes to asymmetric cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with ethyldiazoacetate. Enantioselectivities of up to 70% were obtained, which is the highest ee reported from the use of this ligand class in this reaction to date. The multiple stereogenic centres in the ligand resulted in a substantial additive effect and this is discussed along with interpretation of the results for previously described 4,4′BOX ligands, and a major computational study of the multiple reaction channels involved with ligands of this type. The use of complexes of 4,4′BOX ligands, as catalysts, in an allylic alkylation is also reported for the first time and ee’s of >70% have been achieved in this reaction. These ligands were also applied to a Diels–Alder test reaction and again outperformed previous examples of this ligand type.