The Application of HETPHOX Ligands to the Intramolecular Asymmetric Heck Reaction

A new thiophene-oxazoline P,N ligand derived from cis-aminoindanol was prepared and a range of analogous HETPHOX ligands were applied to the intramolecular Heck reaction. The enantioselectivity obtained was 76% employing the tert-butyl-substituted HETPHOX ligand with an aryl triflate spirooxindole precursor. The isomer distribution of the product spirooxindoles was high (up to 99:1).