Substituted pyridylamide ligands in microwave-accelerated Mo(0)-catalysed allylic alkylations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-2002-33345

Novel 4- and 6-substituted bis-pyridylamides were prepared by microwave accelerated nucleophilic substitution of the 4- and 6-halo substituted derivatives of the parent ligand 1a. The ligands were used in the asymmetric allylation of cinnamyl carbonate catalysed by Mo(O) in which the 4-chloro- and 4-pyrrolidyl substituted ligand derivatives exhibited high regioselectivity (74:1 and 88:1, respectively) and enantioselectivity (96% ee), whereas 6-substituted ligands afforded no product under the same conditions. Other allylic substrates were used to explore the generality of the procedure.