The synthesis of imidazolinium salts from low-cost amino alcohols incorporating different
sterically demanding silyl groups is described. The new salts were analyzed and investigated
as carbene precursors in a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular α-arylation
of an amide. The easily accessible carbene precursors gave enantiomeric excesses of
up to 72% with nearly quantitative yields. The salts were also successfully applied
as chiral solvating agents with the potassium salt of Mosher’s carboxylate and can
therefore contribute to the field of chiral recognition.
Key words
carbenes - asymmetric catalysis - chiral recognition - chiral pool - palladium