A palladium complex containing a new C2-symmetric bidentate non-racemic oxalamidine ligand: synthesis and catalytic properties

Non-racemic (S,S,S,S)-(-)-2,2′-bis-(4,5-diphenyl-1, 3-imidazoline) 1 has been prepared in good yields from the reaction of (S,S)-(-)1,2-diphenylethylenediamine with diethyl oxalimidate. The reaction of 1 with sodium tetrachloropalladate yields [PdCl2(1)] complex 2, whose structure has been ascertained by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 2 catalyzes the hydro-arylation of norbornene in good catalytic activity but with poor enantioselectivity.