新型手性咪唑鎓环番的合成及对氨基酸的对映选择性识别

以L-氨基酸为手性源, 合成了一系列新型手性咪唑鎓环番, 并进行了结构表征. 在碱性条件下, L氨基酸和乙二醛、甲醛缩合生成了(S)-2-(1-咪唑)羧酸钠, 转化为甲酯后与乙二胺进行胺解反应制得开链手性咪唑二酰胺, 然后与二溴化合物在高稀淡技术和无水条件下进行季铵化关环反应, 再进行阴离子交换制得目标分子(4~6). 以手性咪唑鎓环番为主体分子, 研究了对氨基酸及其衍生物的对映选择性识别作用.     

New pyridine carboxamide ligands and their complexation to copper(II). X-Ray crystal structures of mono-, di, tri- and tetranuclear copper complexes

Seven new pyridine dicarboxamide ligands H2L(1-7) have been synthesised from condensation reactions involving pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2dipic), pyridine-2,6-dicarbonyl dichloride or 2,6-diaminopyridine with heterocyclic amine or carboxylic acid precursors. Crystallographic analyses of N,N'-bis(2-pyridyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide monohydrate (H2L8 x H2O), N,N'-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide and N,N'-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide monohydrate revealed extensive intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. 2,6-Bis(pyrazine-2-carboxamido)pyridine (H2L6) and 2,6-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)pyridine (H2L7) reacted with copper(II) acetate monohydrate to give tricopper(II) complexes [Cu3(L)2(mu2-OAc)2]. X-Ray crystallography confirmed deprotonation of the amidic nitrogen atoms and that the (L6,7)2- ligands and acetate anions hold three copper(II) ions in approximately linear fashion. H2L8. Reacted with copper(II) tetrakis(pyridine) perchlorate to give [Cu(L8)(OH2)]2 x 2H2O, in which (L8)2- was tridentate through the nitrogen atoms of the central pyridine ring and the deprotonated carboxamide groups at one copper centre, with one of the terminal pyridyl rings coordinating to the other copper atom in the dimer. The corresponding reaction using H2L7 gave [Cu3(L7)2(py)2][ClO4]2, which transformed during an attempted recrystallisation from ethanol under aerobic conditions to a tetracopper(II) complex [Cu4(L7)2(L7-O)2].     

含酚醚中心功能基的大二环型穴醚的合成及配位性能

4-氯-2, 6-二羟基苯甲醚(2)与氯乙酸钠缩合, 制得4-氯-2, 6-二(羟甲氧基甲基)苯甲醚(4), 由4经酰氯化生成4-氯-2, 6-二(3-氯甲酰基-2-氧杂丙基)苯甲醚(5)后, 再与相应的二氮杂冠醚3a, 3b和3c反应制备标题化合物1a~1c。用1^H NMR法研究了1a~1c对碱金属离子的配位性能, 讨论了分子内的中心功能基和底环大小对其IR, 1^H NMR和配位行为的影响。     

Family of mixed-valence oxovanadium(IV/V) dinuclear entities incorporating N4O3-coordinating heptadentate ligands: synthesis, structure, and EPR spectra

Dinuclear (V(IV)V(V)) oxophenoxovanadates of general formula [V2O3L] have been synthesized in excellent yields by reacting bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) with H3L in a 2:1 ratio in acetone under an N2 atmosphere. Here L3- is the deprotonated form of 2,6-bis[{{(2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L1), 2,6-bis[{{(5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L2), 2,6-bis[{{(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L3), 2,6-bis[{{(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol(H3L4), 2,6-bis[{{(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N'N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L5), or 2,6-bis[{{(5-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N'N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L6). In [V2O3L1], both the metal atoms have distorted octahedral geometry. The relative disposition of two terminal V=O groups in the complex is essentially cis. The O=V...V=O torsion angle is 24.6(2) degrees . The V-O(oxo)-V and V-O(phenoxo)-V angles are 117.5(4) and 93.4(3) degrees , respectively. The V...V bond distance is 3.173(5) A. X-ray crystallography, IR, UV-vis, and 1H and 51V NMR measurements show that the mixed-valence complexes contain two indistinguishable vanadium atoms (type III). The thermal ellipsoids of O2, O4, C10, C14, and C15 also suggests a type III complex in the solid state. EPR spectra of solid complexes at 77 K display a single line indicating the localization of the odd electron (3d(xy)1). Valence localization at 77 K is also consistent with the 51V hyperfine structure of the axial EPR spectra (3d(xy)1 ground state) of the complexes in frozen (77 K) dichloromethane solution: S = 1/2, g(parallel) approximately 1.94, g(perpendicular) approximately 1.98, A(parallel) approximately 166 x 10(-4) cm(-1), and A(perpendicular) approximately 68 x 10(-4) cm(-1). In contrast isotropic room-temperature solution spectra of the family have 15 hyperfine lines (g(iso) approximately 1.974 and A(iso) approximately 50 x 10(-4) cm(-1)) revealing that the unpaired electron is delocalized between the metal centers. Crystal data for the [V2O3L1].CH2Cl2 complex are as follows: chemical formula, C32H43O6N4Cl2V2; crystal system, monoclinic; space group, C2/c; a = 18.461(4), b = 17.230(3), c = 13.700(3) A; beta = 117.88(3) degrees ; Z = 8.     

Coordination compounds based on 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid

Syntheses of 2,6-bis[((3S)-3-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)carbonyl]pyridine and its coordination compounds with Cu2+, Co2+, Co3+, or Fe3+ are described. By means of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra it was proved that 2,6-bis[((3S)-3-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)carbonyl]pyridine as well as its coordination compound with Co3+ exist in the form of a mixture of three conformers, differing in the conformations at the two amide groups present. The prepared coordination compounds were tested in the enantioselective catalysis of the nitroaldol addition of nitromethane with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde or 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, and in the Michael addition of ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate to but-3-en-2-one.     

手性吡啶-2,6-双酰胺钴（Ⅲ）配合物的合成与光谱分析

合成了配体2,6-双{N-［（1′-甲基羟基-2′-苯基）乙基］氨基甲酰胺}吡啶及其钴（Ⅲ）配合物,利用核磁共振氢谱、核磁共振碳谱、红外光谱和元素分析对配体的结构进行确证,经表征配合物组成为{［Co（L-2H）］2O2}?2H2O。红外光谱分析表明,该配体为四齿配体,通过2个酰胺氮原子和2个羟基氧原子参与钴（Ⅲ）配位。运用圆二色谱对目标配体和配合物的光学活性进行分析,结果表明两者均为手性化合物。     

NCN pincer palladium complexes: their preparation via a ligand introduction route and their catalytic properties

A wide range of NCN pincer palladium complexes, [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(N-alkylimino)phenyl]chloropalladium (alkyl = n-butyl, benzyl, cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, adamantyl, phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl), were readily prepared from trans-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenyl)chlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium via dehydrative introduction of the corresponding alkylimino ligand groups (ligand introduction route) in excellent yields (71-98%). NMR studies on this route for forming pincer complexes revealed the intermediacy of [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(N-alkylimino)phenyl]chlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium which is in equilibrium with the corresponding NCN pincer complexes via coordination/dissociation of the intramolecular imino groups and triphenylphosphine ligands. A series of chiral NCN pincer complexes bearing pyrroloimidazolone units as the trans-chelating donor groups, [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis{(3R,7aS)-2-phenylhexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-1-on-3-yl}phenyl]chloropalladium, were also prepared from the same precursor via condensation with proline anilides in high yields. The catalytic properties of the NCN imino and the NCN pyrroloimidazolone pincer palladium complexes were examined in the Heck reaction and the asymmetric Michael reaction to demonstrate their high catalytic activity and high enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic enantioselective allylation of aldehydes using β-amido functionalized allylstannanes with chiral In(OTf)3/i-Pr-pybox complexes

The enantioselective allylation of aldehydes using a variety of β-amido functionalized allyltributylstannanes proceeded smoothly with good to high yields and enantioselectivities in the presence of 10 mol % of a chiral catalytic complex prepared from In(OTf)₃ and 2,6-bis[(S)-4-isopropyloxazolin-2-yl]pyridine {(S)-i-Pr-pybox}, providing the corresponding chiral γ-hydroxy amides.     

新型2,6-双(3,5-二取代吡唑基-1-羰基)吡啶的合成

报道了四种吡唑衍生物和它们四种新型的杂环酰胺衍生物的合成 ,它们是 3 ,5 二甲基吡唑 (1) ,5 甲基 3 苯基吡唑(2 ) ,3 ,5 二苯基吡唑 (3 ) ,5 甲基 3 二茂铁基吡唑 (4 ) ,2 ,6 双 (3 ,5 二甲基吡唑基 1 羰基 )吡啶 (5 ) ,2 ,6 双 (5 甲基 3 苯基吡唑基 1 羰基 )吡啶 (6) ,2 ,6 双 (3 ,5 二苯基吡唑基 1 羰基 )吡啶 (7)和 2 ,6 双 (5 甲基 3 二茂铁基吡唑基 1 羰基 )吡啶 (8) .并对它们进行了元素分析 ,FT IR ,1HNMR和13 CNMR等波谱分析 .     

Mononuclear, dinuclear, hexanuclear, and one-dimensional polymeric silver complexes having ligand-supported and unsupported argentophilic interactions stabilized by pincer-like 2,6-bis(5-pyrazolyl)pyridine ligands

The mononuclear complexes [Ag(H2L1)(Py)2](NO3) x H2O (1, H2L1 = 2,6-bis(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine) and [Ag(NO3)(L()] (2, L2 = 2,6-bis(5-methyl-1-isopropyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine), dinuclear complex [Ag2(H2L3)2(HL4)2] (3, H2L3 = 2,6-bis(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, HL4 = 6-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazolyl-3-yl)picolinate), one-dimensional polymer {[Ag2(H2L1)2](NO3)2 x H2O}(n) (4), and hexanuclear clusters [Ag6(HL1)4](X)2 (X = NO3-, 5 ; BF4-, 6 ; ClO4-, 7) stabilized by pincer-like bispyrazolyl ligands have been prepared and characterized using (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In complex , there is a ligand unsupported Ag-Ag bond between the two silver atoms. Complex displays a one-dimensional polymer consisting of an infinite Ag-Ag chain and every two adjacent silver ions are bridged by an H2L1 ligand. Complexes and have the same Ag6 cores in which six silver atoms are held together by four HL1 and five Ag-Ag bonds, while complex was held together by six Ag-Ag bonds. The silver-silver distances in these complexes are found in the range of 2.874(1)-3.333(2) A for ligand supported, and 3.040(1) A for ligand unsupported Ag-Ag bonds, respectively. Complexes 3-7 are strongly luminescent due to either intraligand or metal-ligand charge transfer processes.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of olefins using H2O2, part I: synthesis of new chiral N,N,N-tridentate pybox and pyboxazine ligands and their ruthenium complexes

The synthesis of chiral tridentate N,N,N-pyridine-2,6-bisoxazolines 3 (pybox ligands) and N,N,N-pyridine-2,6-bisoxazines 4 (pyboxazine ligands) is described in detail. These novel ligands constitute a useful toolbox for the application in asymmetric catalysis. Compounds 3 and 4 are conveniently prepared by cyclization of enantiomerically pure alpha- or beta-amino alcohols with dimethyl pyridine-2,6-dicarboximidate. The corresponding ruthenium complexes are efficient asymmetric epoxidation catalysts and have been prepared in good yield and fully characterized by spectroscopic means. Four of these ruthenium complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. For the first time the molecular structure of a pyboxazine complex [2,6-bis-[(4S)-4-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,3]oxazinyl]pyridine](pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate)ruthenium (S)-2 aa, is presented.     

1,3-二(2,6-二甲基苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-二吡啶基-二氯合钌化合物的合成

设计了由1,3-二(2,6-二甲基苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-三苯基膦-二氯合钌(7)和吡啶反应生成无膦型金属钌卡宾化合物1,3-二(2,6-二甲苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-2-吡啶基-二氯合钌(8),8作为高效催化剂用于丙烯腈和烯丙基苯的交叉交互置换反应.新化合物7,8经核磁共振氢谱、碳谱和高分辨率质谱予以证实.     

1,3-二(2,6-二甲基苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-二吡啶基-二氯合钌 化合物的合成

设计了由1,3-二(2,6-二甲基苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-三苯基膦-二氯合钌(7)和吡啶反应生成无膦型金属钌卡宾化合物1,3-二(2,6-二甲苯基)-2-四氢咪唑基-苯亚甲基-2-吡啶基-二氯合钌(8), 8作为高效催化剂用于丙烯腈和烯丙基苯的交叉交互置换反应. 新化合物7, 8经核磁共振氢谱、碳谱和高分辨率质谱予以证实.     

Sterically variable dizinc complexes bearing bis(iminopyridyl)phenolate ligands: synthesis, structures and reactivity studies

A series of chiral dizinc complexes of the type [(2,6-{ArN=C(Me)C5H3N}2C6H3O)Zn2(micro-Cl)Cl2] [Ar=2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (), 2,6-Me2C6H3 (), 2,4,6-Me3-C6H2 (), 2,4-Me2C6H3 ()] can be conveniently prepared in good yield by the template reaction of 2,6-{O=C(Me)C5H3N}2C6H3OH with an excess of the corresponding aniline and two equivalents of zinc dichloride in n-BuOH at elevated temperature. Alternatively, the pro-ligands, 2,6-{(ArN=C(Me)C5H3N}2C6H3OH [Ar=2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (L1-H), 2,6-Me2C6H3 (L2-H), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (L3-H), 2,4-Me2C6H3 (L4-H)], can be isolated and then treated with two equivalents of zinc dichloride to afford . Interaction of with two equivalents of NaOAc in the presence of TlBF4 gives the diacetate-bridged salt [(L1)Zn2(micro-OAc)2](BF4) () while with Nadbm (dbm=dibenzoylmethanato) the bis(dbm)-chelated salt [(L1)Zn2(dbm)2](BF4) () is obtained. Hydrolysis occurs on reaction of with TlOEt to furnish [(L1)Zn2(micro-OH)Cl2] () as the only isolable product. Conversely, reaction of with Tlhp (hp=2-pyridonate) affords the neutral bis(pyridonate)-bridged trimetallic complex [(L1)Zn3(micro-hp)2Cl3] () as the major product along with as the minor one. Complex and mixtures of / act as modest activators for the ring-opening polymerisation of epsilon-caprolactone. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on , , , , and reveal Zn...Zn separations in the range: 3.069(4)-4.649(6) A.     

Alkylation reactions of [WS(4)](2)(-) and [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))WS(3)](-) with 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine: the first isolation of bisalkylated tetrathiometalate WS(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)

The trithio and tetrathio complexes of tungsten (PPh(4))[CpWS(3)] (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) and (PPh(4))(2)[WS(4)] undergo alkylation reactions with 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine to yield [(CpWS(2))(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)]].CH(3)CN (1.CH3CN) (73.1% yield) and WS(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)] (2) (76.0% yield), respectively. In the dinuclear complex 1, two CpWS(3) units are linked by a 2,6-dimethylenepyridine bridge, and the pyridine nitrogen is not coordinated at tungsten. Complex 2 is the first example of bisalkylated tetrathiometalates, the mononuclear structure of which is stabilized by coordination of the pyridine nitrogen.     

Bis(arylimino)pyridine derivatives of Group 4 metals: preparation, characterization and activity in ethylene polymerization

Titanium tetrachloride reacts with 2,6-bis[(1-phenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 1, and 2,6-bis[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, 2, giving the adducts of general formulae [Ti1Cl3]Cl, 3, and [Ti2Cl3]Cl, 6, the latter through the intermediacy of the covalently bonded [Ti2Cl4], 4. Heating 6 leads to reduction to the titanium(III) derivative [Ti2Cl3], 12, the latter characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. The reaction of [Ti1Cl3]Cl with a toluene solution of MAO proceeds with methylation at the ortho-position of the pyridine ring to give the titanium(iv) derivative [Ti(C22H21N3)Cl3], 8. The reaction of [Ti2Cl3]Cl with MAO gives a mixture of products containing [Ti2Cl2(OAlCl3)], 9. Compound 9, which has been prepared independently by reacting 6 with AlOCl, is a rare case of a compound containing the -OAlCl3 moiety, as shown by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. From the tetrachlorides of zirconium and hafnium with 1 or 2, the corresponding adducts [M(L)Cl4] have been obtained in high yields. These derivatives of Group 4 metals act as ethylene polymerization catalytic precursors: the substitution of the phenyl ring of the imino fragment strongly influences the catalytic activity which is 5,544 kg(PE) mol(Ti)(-1) h(-1) in the case of 3 and 267 kg(PE) mol(Ti)(-1) h(-1) with 6. Catalytic activity has been observed for zirconium and hafnium too, the activity decreasing from zirconium to hafnium, under comparable conditions.     

Stereocomplexity and stereoselective synthesis of triamine molecules bearing four chiral carbon centers: Stereodifferentiated preparation of all 10 stereoisomers of 2,6-bis[1-(1-phenylethylamino)ethyl]pyridines

Compounds (S,S)-2,6-bis(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine, (R,R)-2,6-bis(1-acetoxyethyl)pyridine, and (1R,1'S)-2-(1-acetoxyethyl)-6-(1'-hydroxyethyl)pyridine were obtained by lipase-catalyzed kinetic acetylation of 2,6-bis(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine as enantiomerically pure forms. The stereospecific replacement of hydroxy groups with (R)-phenylethylamine or (S)-phenylethylamine via its methanesulfonate or toluenesulfonate simultaneously or stepwise afforded all the stereoisomers of 1. Stereospecific preparation of all the 10 possible stereoisomers of 2,6-bis[1-(1-phenylethylamino)ethyl]pyridines 1a-f was achieved. Triamine 1b reacted with ZnCl2 to form Zn-triamine complex 16, the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of annulated nicotine analogues from D-glutamic acid. 7-Azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptano[2.3-c]pyridines

The conformationally restricted nicotinoid (1S,4S)-7-methyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptano[2,3-c]pyridine dihydrochloride has been prepared enantiospecifically from D-glutamic acid. The method involved a lithium cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidide-mediated intramolecular anionic cyclization of (2S,5R)-N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-5-[3-(4-N-chloropyridinyl]proline methyl ester in tandem with a standard decarboxylation sequence. Reductive amination afforded the desired N-methylated [2.2.1]bicyclonicotinoid. Cyclization of the corresponding iodopyridinylproline methyl ester, obtained via ultrasound-facilitated chloro-iodo exchange, was also effected.     

Coordination chemistry of dinucleating P2N2S ligands: preparation and characterization of cationic palladium complexes

The thioethers (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL3) and (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL4) react readily with [Pd(NCMe)2Cl2] to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2(Cl)2]+ and [(L4)Pd2(micro-Cl)]2+ (HL3=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chlorides in could be replaced by neutral (MeCN) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, I-, CN-) to give the dinuclear PdII complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+, [(L3)Pd2(SCN)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(I)2]+, and [(L3)Pd2(CN)2]+. The acetonitrile ligands in are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complex [(L3)Pd2(NHCOMe)]2+. All complexes were isolated as perchlorate salts and studied by infrared, 1H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes [ClO4].EtOH, [ClO4]2, [ClO4], [ClO4].EtOH, and [ClO4]2.MeCN.MeOH have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dipalladium complex was found to catalyse the vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene in the presence of MAO (methylalumoxane) and B(C6F5)3/AlEt3.     

Double bonds in motion: bis(oxazolinylmethyl)pyrroles and their metal-induced planarization to a new class of rigid chiral C2-symmetric complexes

The synthesis of a new class of chiral C(2)-symmetric tridentate N-donor ligands, a series of 2,5-bis(2-oxazolinylmethyl)pyrroles, was achieved in four steps starting from the known 2,5-bis(trimethylammoniomethyl)pyrrole diiodide (1). Reaction of 1 with NaCN in dimethyl sulfoxide gave 2,5-bis(cyanomethyl)pyrrole (2) cleanly, which was then cyclized with amino alcohols to give the 2,5-bis(2-oxazolinylmethyl)pyrroles 3 a-c (3 a: bis[2-(4,4'-dimethyl-5-hydrooxazolyl)methyl]pyrrole; 3 b: (S,S)-bis[2-(4-isopropyl-4,5-dihydrooxazolyl)methyl]pyrrole; 3 c: (S,S)-bis[2-(4-tertiobutyl-4,5-dihydrooxazolyl)methyl]pyrrole). Metallation of 3 a-c with one molar equivalent of tBuLi and their subsequent reaction with a stoichiometric amount of [PdCl(2)(cod)] (cod=cyclooctadiene) gave the palladium(II) complexes 4 a-c. Whereas the arrangement of the N-donor atoms in the crystallographically characterized complex 4 a is almost ideally square planar, all three heterocycles in the ligand are twisted out of the coordination plane, leading to a chiral conformation of the complex. Attempts to freeze out these two conformers in solution at 200 K (NMR) failed, and this suggests that the activation barrier for conformational racemization is significantly below 10 kcal mol(-1). The palladium-induced shift of two double bonds as well as the porphyrinogen/porphyrin-type oxidation of the complexes 4 a-c led to the planarization of the 2,5-bis(oxazolinylmethyl)pyrrolide ligands in the palladium(II) complexes 5 a-c, 6 b, and 6 c, and to the formation of rigid chiral C(2)-symmetric systems as shown by X-ray diffraction studies. The formation of the conjugated system of double bonds in this transformation is accompanied by the emergence of an intra-ligand chromophore. This is evident in the absorption spectrum of 6 c which displays an intense band with a maximum at 485 nm attributable to an intra-ligand pi*<--pi transition and a characteristic vibrational progression of nu approximately 1350 cm(-1). Complexes 4 b and 4 c were tested in the catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of ethyl 2-cyanopropionate to methyl vinylketone (catalyst loading: 1 mol %) and were found to give maximum ee values of 43 % (4 b) and 21 % (4 c) at low conversions.