Development of diphenylamine-linked bis(imidazoline) ligands and their application in asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole derivatives with nitroalkenes

The new diphenylamine-linked bis(imidazoline) ligands were prepared through Kelly-You's imidazoline formation procedure mediated by Hendrickson 's reagent in good yields. The novel ligands were tested in the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole derivatives with nitroalkenes. In most cases, good yields (up to 97%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%) can be achieved. The optimized bis(imidazoline) ligand with trans-diphenyl substitution on the imidazoline ring gave better enantioselectivity than the corresponding bis(oxazoline) ligand.