Synthesis and crystallographic characterization of chiral bis-oxazoline-amides. Fine-tunable ligands for Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alkylations

New chiral chelating C-2 bis-oxazoline-amide ligands (1) exhibiting a highly flexible molecular structure have been prepared in high yield through a versatile synthetic pathway. Combined crystallographic, variable temperature (VT)-NMR, IR, and ESI-MS studies have been carried out to investigate the nature of the 1-Pd complexes that are effective tools in controlling the stereochemical outcome of Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations (ee up to 98%)