Combined experimental and theoretical study of the mechanism and enantioselectivity of palladium-catalyzed intermolecular Heck coupling

Signe Teuber Henriksen, Per-Ola Norrby, Päivi Kaukoranta, Pher G. Andersson

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The asymmetric Heck reaction using P,N-ligands has been studied by a combination of theoretical and experimental methods. The reaction follows Halpern-style selectivity; that is, the major isomer is produced from the least favored form of the pre-insertion intermediate. The initially formed Ph-Pd(P,N) species prefers a geometry with the phenyl trans to N. However, the alternative form, with Ph trans to P, is much less stable but much more reactive. In the preferred transition state, the phenyl moiety is trans to P, but significant electron density has been transferred to the alkene carbon trans to N. The steric interactions in this transition state fully account for the enantioselectivity observed with the ligands studied. The calculations also predict relative reactivity and nonlinear mixing effects for the investigated ligands; these predictions are fully validated by experimental testing. Finally, the low conversion observed with some catalysts was found to be caused by inactivation due to weak binding of the ligand to Pd(0). Adding monodentate PPh3 alleviated the precipitation problem without deteriorating the enantioselectivity and led to one of the most effective catalytic systems to date.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume130
Issue number31
Pages (from-to)10414-10421
ISSN0002-7863
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Combined experimental and theoretical study of the mechanism and enantioselectivity of palladium-catalyzed intermolecular Heck coupling'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this