Cycloadditions and asymmetric synthesis

Catalysts of the Co(salen) family incorporating chiral centers on the ligand backbone are useful in asymmetric synthesis and the field has been reviewed.1377,1378 In two examples, the hydroxy-lation reaction (Equation (14)) involving (269) proceeds with 38% ee,1379 whereas the cyclo-propanation reaction with (271) (Equation (15)) proceeds with 75% ee and with 95 5 trans cis.1380 A Co(V) salen carbenoid intermediate has been suggested in these reactions. 

Optically active /3-ketoiminato cobalt(III) compounds based on chiral substituted ethylenedi-amine find use as efficient catalysts for the enatioselective hetero Diels Alder reaction of both aryl and alkyl aldehydes with l-methoxy-(3-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)-1,3-butadiene.1381 Cobalt(II) compounds of the same class of ligands promote enantioselective borohydride reduction of ketones, imines, and a,/3-unsaturated carboxylates.1382 

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