Design and synthesis of planar chiral heterocyclic carbene precursors derived from [2.2]paracyclophane.

A unique family of planar chiral symmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene precursors with restricted flexibility derived from [2.2]paracyclopane were obtained by a new synthetic route. The resolution of 4-amino-13-bromo[2.2]paracyclophane was achieved with relatively high efficiency. Starting from (4 S p,13 R p)-4-amino-13-bromo[2.2]paracyclophane, the planar chiral pseudogem-disubstituted [2.2]paracyclophanyl dihydroimidazoliums were prepared in a four-step sequence with good yields. The resulting dihydroimidazolium salts were fully characterized with a series of methods including single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique.