A simple protocol for the synthesis of chiral bidentate imidodiphosphoric tetramide ligands: application in the metal-free asymmetric allylation of aldehydes

The reaction of a series of chiral phosphorus triamides with BuLi and subse quent addition of a phosphoroxychloride diamide afforded the corresponding imidodiphosphoric tetramides in high yield. The use of enantiomerically pur e diamides allowed access to bidentate imidodiphosphoric tetramides without loss of optical purity. These bidentate ligands have been used successfull y to catalyze the addition of allyltrichlorosilane to aldehydes in an enant ioselective fashion up to 60% ee. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.