Hemilabile β-aminophosphine ligands derived from 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane: application in aqueous ruthenium catalyzed nitrile hydration.

A series of β-aminophosphines derived from 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) are described. PTA-CHPhNHPh (1), PTA-CH(p-C(6)H(4)OCH(3))NHPh (2), and PTA-CPh(2)NHPh (3) were prepared in good yield (62-77%) by reaction of lithiated PTA with the corresponding imine followed by hydrolysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were synthesized as pairs of diastereomers which were separated by successive recrystallization from THF/hexane.