Catalytic enantioselective aryl transfer to aldehydes using chiral 2,2'-bispyrrolidine-based salan ligands.

Chiral C₂-symmetric diamines have emerged as versatile auxiliaries or ligands in numerous asymmetric transformations. Chiral 2,2'-bispyrrolidine-based salan ligands were prepared and applied to the asymmetric aryl transfer to aldehydes with arylboronic acids as the source of transferable aryl groups. The corresponding diarylmethanols were obtained in high yields with moderate to good enantioselectivitives of up to 83% ee.