Nickel(II) complexes bearing phosphinoaryl oxazoline ligands as pro- catalysts for Grignard cross-coupling

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(97)10332-5

Ni(II) complexes bearing chiral phosphinoaryl oxazoline ligands are pro- catalysts for cross-coupling of Z-styryl bromide with 1-phenethyl magnesium chloride. Under suitable conditions, there is a dynamic kinetic resolution resulting in moderate enantioselectivity. The nature of the substituent at the stereogenic centre of the oxazoline ligand affects catalysis in two distinct ways: smaller substituents lead to improved rates and selectivities whilst polar substituents reverse the sense of asymmetric induction. The solid state structure of one phosphinoaryl oxazoline Ni(II) pro-catalyst was determined by single crystal x-ray diffraction.