Rational tuning of the rigidity of a ligand scaffold: synthesis of diphenylsulfide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands and their application in asymmetric allylic alkylation

The scaffold rigidity of bis(oxazoline) ligands was rationally tuned on the basis of literature information. Diphenylsulfide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands with a flexible scaffold were efficiently synthesized to test our hypothesis. The improved enantioselectivity in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction was achieved as we expected.