Application of supramolecular bidentate hybrid ligands in asymmetric hydroformylation

In this study we report a novel class of supramolecular bidentate hybrid ligands in which the two inequivalent phosphorus units and pyridine moieties are covalently attached to a chiral scaffold and the supramolecular interactions are used as a second handle to control the coordination sphere around the transition-metal centre. The coordination chemistry of these ligands was investigated under hydroformylation conditions by high-pressure NMR and IR spectroscopy, revealing the formation of a single active species in which the phosphane ligand is in the axial position and the phosphoramidite adopts the equatorial position. These ligands were applied in the asymmetric Rh-catalysed hydroformylation of styrene and para-substituted analogues. In these hydroformylation reactions, modification of the electronic and steric properties of the zinc(II)-templates appear to have a significant influence on the activity and selectivity of the catalysis. In particular, zinc(II)-templates bearing more electron-withdrawing substituents led to an increase in enantioselectivity