Highly enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric anilide derivatives through catalytic asymmetric N-arylation: Conformational analysis and application to asymmetric enolate chemistry

In the presence of (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst, N-arylation (aromatic amination) of various o-tert-butylanilides with p-iodonitrobenzene proceeds with high enantioselectivity (88-96% ee) to give atropisomeric N-(p-nitrophenyl)anilides having an N-C chiral axis in good yields. Atropisomeric anilide products highly prefer to exist as the E-rotamer which has trans-disposed o-tert-butylphenyl group and carbonyl oxygen. The application of the present catalytic enantioselective N-arylation to an intramolecular version gives atropisomeric lactam derivatives with high optical purity (92-98% ee). The reaction of the lithium enolate prepared from the atropisomeric anilide and lactam products with various alkyl halides gives α-alkylated products with high diastereoselectivity (diastereomer ratio = 13:1 to 46:1).