Chiral biarylamido/anisole complexes of yttrium in enantioselective aminoalkene hydaroamination/cyclisation.

A group of chiral, dibasic, biaryl-bridged amido proligands containing peripheral methoxyphenyl (anisole) ligation are developed for the synthesis of new amide complexes of yttrium and lanthanum. A potentially tetradentate bis(amidoanisole) system gives, on reaction with [Y[N(SiMe(2)H)(2)](3)(THF)] a crystallographically-characterised bis complex [Y(H)] presumably as a result of low steric demand, since a more bulky version gives the target [Y[N(SiMe(2)H)(2)](THF)]. The molecular structure of the latter reveals a similar cis-alpha structure to our recently reported Schiff-base analogue. Variable-temperature NMR studies are consistent with low rigidity in the molecular structure. A potentially tridentate, amidoanisolyl/amido proligand gives complexes [M[N(SiMe(2)H)(2)](THF)(n)](M = Y, n= 1; M = La, n= 2). Chiral non-racemic versions of the above complexes were tested in the hydroamination/cyclisation of 2,2'-dimethylaminopentane to the corresponding pyrrolidine. Activities were relatively low compared to recently reported examples, and ee values were in the range 20-40% despite the well-expressed chirality of the catalysts.

Zirconium catalysed enantioselective hydroamination/cyclisation.

A chiral zirconium alkyl cation catalyses the cyclisation of certain aminoalkenes with enantioselectivity up to 82%, the highest thus far observed for such a process.

Enantioselective aziridination using copper complexes of biaryl Schiff bases.

Racemic 2,2'-diamino-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl is resolved using simulated moving bed chromatography, and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers is confirmed via the X-ray crystal structure of a derivative. The diamine is condensed with a range of aldehydes to give bidentate aldimine proligands L. Molecular structures of the complexes formed between L and Cu(I) fall into two classes; bimetallic double helices ([Cu(2)L(2)](2+)) and monometallic ([CuL](+)). The latter are strikingly more efficient in the aziridination of alkenes than are the former in terms of rate, turnover, and enantioselection. In particular, the imine ligand formed from the diamine and 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde gives, in combination with Cu(I) or Cu(II), up to 99% ee in the aziridination of 6-acyl-2,2-dimethylchromene and 88-98% ee for a range of cinnamate esters. Styrenic and other alkenes are converted with lower selectivities (5-54%). The catalytic system shows a linear response in product ee to catalyst ee, and the product ee does not vary significantly during the reaction. UV spectrophotometric investigations indicate that conversion of Cu(I) to Cu(II) is not essential for catalysis but that Cu(II) is probably also a competent system.