Primary phosphines are an excellent starting point for synthesising functionalised organophosphorus compounds, due to the high reactivity of their P-H bonds. Working with primary phosphines is often assumed to be difficult due to their perceived high air-sensitivity and pyrophoric nature.1 Nevertheless, over the last two decades a number of �user-friendly� primary phosphines have begun to emerge, whose stability is either unexplained or attributed to steric encumbrance. The L. J. Higham research group has demonstrated that air-stable, chiral primary phosphines with high levels of conjugation can be used as precursors in the synthesis of ligands with unusual functionality on the phosphorus donor.2 Based upon the successful MOP-phosphine ligand class developed by Hayashi, we have synthesised a number of MOP-type ligands with a diverse range of electronic and steric properties.3 Herein we present the synthesis of novel, chiral phosphonite molecules in a one-pot, two-step reaction and a study of the electronic properties of these phosphorus donor ligands. A number of the group 9, 10 and 11 transition metal complexes of the phosphonite ligands have been synthesised; analysis of the complexes in both solution and the solid state will be discussed. Examples of homogeneous asymmetric catalysis using the phosphonites ligands as chiral inductors will also be presented. 1. Brynda, M., Coord. Chem. Rev. 2005,  249 (19�20), 2013-2034. 2. Stewart, B.; Harriman, A.; Higham, L. J., Organometallics 2011,  30 (20), 5338-5343. 3. Ficks, A.; Hiney, R. M.; Harrington, R. W.; Gilheany, D. G.; Higham, L. J., Dalton Trans. 2012,  41 (12), 3515-3522.

Transition metal complexes of novel MOP-phosphonites and their applications in homogeneous asymmetric catalysis

247th National Meeting (2014)

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