Ferrocene derivatives chiral ligands

A catalytic asymmetric [4+2]-cydoaddition of a vinylallene with butadiene has been achieved successfully, in which a palladium complex modified by a ferrocene-derived chiral monophosphine ligand proved to be a superior catalyst transferring chirality to the product (Scheme 16.80) [90],... 

In 1999 Trost and Schroder reported on the first asymmetric allylic alkylation of nonstabilized ketone enolates of 2-substituted cyclohexanone derivatives, e.g. 2-methyl-1-tetralone (45), by using a catalytic amount of a chiral palladium complex formed from TT-allylpaUadium chloride dimer and the chiral cyclohexyldiamine derivative 47 (equation 14). The addition of tin chloride helped to soften the lithium enolate by transmetala-tion and a slight increase in enantioselectivity and yield for the alkylated product 46 was observed. Besides allyl acetate also linearly substituted or 1,3-dialkyl substituted allylic carbonates functioned well as electrophiles. A variety of cyclohexanones or cyclopen-tanones could be employed as nucleophiles with comparable results . Hon, Dai and coworkers reported comparable results for 45, using ferrocene-modified chiral ligands similar to 47. Their results were comparable to those obtained by Trost. 

The synthesis and application of chiral ferrocene derivatives has attracted much interest.358 Hence the ferrocenyldiphosphine (163) (Josiphos) can be prepared by direct HPR2 substitution of the dimethylamino group (Equation (40)).359 Various other ferrocene-based chiral ligands are known (e.g., the TRAP ligands (164)).360-364... 

The ferrocene-derived Josiphos ligands (137) first reported by Togni and Spindler [99] are another class of chiral diphosphine ligands that are of immense importance both in asymmetric hydrogenations and in other asymmetric transformations. A variety of substrates can be reduced with high enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral metal complexes derived from these ligands. The reduction of dimethyl itaconate (136) furnishes 138 in quantitative yield and 98-99 % ee (Equation 39) [99]. 

The same group of workers has prepared ferrocene derivatives 39 as chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis. Again, cyclic sulfates of optically pure 1,3-diols were used as reagents in the preparation <99SL1975>. 

Fu has reported a planar-chiral bisphosphorus ligand 45 with a phosphaferrocene backbone. The ligand has provided enantioselectivity up to 96% ee in the hydrogenation of a-dehydroamino acid derivatives.99 Another planar-chiral ferrocene-based bisphosphorus ligand 46 has been reported by Kagan recently and enantioselectivity up to 95% ee has been obtained in the reduction of dimethyl itaconate.100... 

While Josiphos 41 also possessed an element of atom-centered chirality in the side chain, Reetz reported a new class of ferrocene-derived diphosphines which had planar chirality only ligands 42 and 43, which have C2- and C -symmetry, respectively.87 Rhodium(i)-complexes of ligands (—)-42 and (—)-43 were used in situ as catalysts (0.75 mol%) for the hydroboration of styrene with catecholborane 1 for 12 h in toluene at — 50 °C. The rhodium/ i-symmetric (—)-43 catalyst system was the more enantioselective of the two - ( -l-phenylethanol was afforded with 52% and 77% ee with diphosphines (—)-42 and (—)-43, respectively. In both cases, the regioselectivity was excellent (>99 1). With the same reaction time but using DME as solvent at lower temperature (—60 °C), the rhodium complex of 43 afforded the alcohol product with an optimum 84% ee. 

The rhodium complexes of the ferrocene derivatives 39 have shown useful characteristics for the reduction of itaconates as well as dehydroamino acid derivatives [15, 167-170]. These compounds are hybrids between ferrocene-based ligands and the various other types. The P-chiral compounds, which in some ways are DIPAMP hybrids, showed tolerance for the reduction of N-methyl en-amides to produce N-methyl-a-amino acid derivatives [169-171]. 

Figure 4.19. Ferrocene derived Cj asynunetric chiral ligands...

Chiral bis(oxazolines) 51 with an oxalylic acid backbone were used for the Ru-catalyzed enantioselective epoxidation of tran5-stilbene yielding franx-l,2-diphenyloxirane in up to 69% ee [24]. The asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to several aldehydes has been examined with ferrocene-based oxazoline ligand 52 [25], resulting in optical yields from 78-93% ec. The imide 53 derived from Kemp s triacid containing a chiral oxazoline moiety was used for the asymmetric protonation of prochiral enolates [26]. Starting from racemic cyclopentanone- and cyclohexanone derivatives, the enantioenriched isomers were obtained in 77-98 % ee. 

We are already well accustomed with the historical relationship seen in the development of NHC ligands with special features. They often follow the example of successful phosphane ligands. Chiral NHC are no exception, although in key areas the very difference in shape between NHC and phosphanes prevents the development of NHC ligands as structural phosphane mimics. The axial (atropisomers with binaphthyl backbone [6,7]) and planar (ferrocene derivatives [8,9], [2,2]-paracyclophanes [10,11]) chiral examples, however, are styled on their phosphane predecessors [12-15]. We will first look at the unique options for NHC ligands before we turn to the more familiar phosphane mimics. 

Optically active ferrocene derivatives, particularly ferrocenyl phosphines, have hitherto been utilized as chiral ligands for a wide range of asymmetric synthesis. We have now revealed that the ferrocene moiety can easily be incorporated in amino alcohol ligands instead of phosphinic ligands. The preparative methods for several types of ferrocenylamino alcohols were developed and they were successfully used to catalyze enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to aldehydes with high enantio-selectivity. In particular, 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl amino alcohols with planar... 

If an achiral ferrocene derivative is converted to a chiral one by chiral reagents or catalysts, this may be called an asymmetric synthesis. All asymmetric syntheses of ferrocene derivatives known so far are reductions of ferrocenyl ketones or aldehydes to chiral secondary alcohols. Early attempts to reduce benzoylferrocene by the Clemmensen procedure in (5)-l-methoxy-2-methylbutane as chiral solvent led to complex mixtures of products with low enantiomeric excess [65]. With (25, 3R)-4-dimethylamino-l,2-diphenyl-3-methyl-2-butanol as chiral modifier for the LiAlH4 reducing agent, the desired alcohol was formed with 53% ee (Fig. 4-9 a) [66]. An even better chiral ligand for LiAlH4 is natural quinine, which allows enantioselective reduction of several ferrocenyl ketones with up to 80% ee [67]. Inclusion complexes of ferrocenyl ketones with cyclodextrins can be reduced by NaBH4 with up to 84% enantioselectivity (Fig. 4-9 b) [68 — 70]. 

A chiral C2-symmetric bridged ferrocene was constructed from a synthetic ligand containing two cyclopentadiene units (Fig. 4-12d). The key step in the synthesis of the ligand is a diastereoselective Diels — Alder reaction of anthracene with bis[(S)-l-ethoxycarbonylethyl]fumarate. When oxidized to the ferrocinium salt, the ferrocene derivative has Lewis acid properties and catalyzes Diels — Alder reactions with some enantioselectivity [85]. 

Considering the industrial importance of cyclopropanes in the pesticide field, it is not surprising that chiral ferrocenylphosphines have been applied as control ligands for the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective formation of cyclopropanes from the dicarbonate of 2-butene-1,4-diol and malonates, leading to 70% ee (Fig. 4-32e) [179]. Ferrocenylphosphines also induce chirality in the reaction of sulfonyl-substituted propenyl carbonates and acrylic esters to methylenecyclopentanes (up to 78% ee (Fig. 4-321)) [180], with potential applications in natural product synthesis. These examples show that the synthetic potential of chiral ferrocene derivatives is not yet fully exploited, and one may look forward to new applications. 

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