Chiral Imidazo[1,5-<i>a</i>]pyridine–Oxazolines: A Versatile Family of NHC Ligands for the Highly Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Ketones
Chinna Ayya Swamy P, Andrii Varenikov, Graham de Ruiter
Abstract
Herein we report the synthesis and application of a versatile class of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands based on an imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-3-ylidine backbone that is fused to a chiral oxazoline auxiliary. The key step in the synthesis of these ligands involves the installation of the oxazoline functionality via a microwave-assisted condensation of a cyano-azolium salt with a wide variety of 2-amino alcohols. The resulting chiral bidentate NHC-oxazoline ligands form stable complexes with rhodium(I) that are efficient catalysts for the enantioselective hydrosilylation of structurally diverse ketones. The corresponding secondary alcohols are isolated in good yields (typically >90%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (80–93% ee). The reported hydrosilylation occurs at ambient temperatures (40 °C), with excellent functional group tolerability. Even ketones bearing heterocyclic substituents (e.g., pyridine or thiophene) or complex organic architectures are hydrosilylated efficiently, which is discussed further in this report.