Dehalogenation of alkyl halides catalyzed by single-enantiomer complexes of titanium

Racemic alkyl bromides were dehalogenated with a stoichiometric quantity of a main group alkyl metal reductant in the presence of a chiral, single-enantiomer titanium catalyst. The reaction was monitored by chiral gas chromatography of samples from the reaction mixture. The chiral titanium compounds examined proved to be effective catalysts. However, there was no detectable difference in the rate of reduction between the two enantiomers of the alkyl halide. An enantiomerically pure secondary bromide was reduced under the same conditions without racemization during the course of the reaction. This indicates that the secondary alkyl bromide is stereochemically stable to the reaction conditions. Radical probe reactions suggest a radical mechanism.