Synthesis of new chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligands with a benzoxazole ring and their application in Ag-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition

New chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligands with a benzoxazole ring as the N-donor group have been synthesized from 2-aminophenol through a three-step transformation and successfully employed in the Ag-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with electron-deficient alkenes. High diastereoselectivities, excellent enantioselectivities, and good yields have been achieved for a variety of substrates, demonstrating the potential of these new P,N-ligands in asymmetric catalysis.