Asymmetric Synthesis of Novel Ferrocenyl Ligands with Planar and Central Chirality

A stereogenic center at the position β to the metallocene backbone is present in ferrocenyl ligands 2 , which are interesting for asymmetric catalysis. These planar-chiral compounds are accessible for the first time by a highly diastereoselective and enantioselective synthesis (de=93–97 %; ee≥96 %) from the ferrocenyl ketones 1 . A variety of donor groups (E¹=Ph₂P⋅BH₃, SMe, SiPr; E²=SMe, STol, SePh, Ph₂P⋅BH₃, iPr₂P⋅BH₃) can be introduced as electrophiles. Tol=tolyl=CH₃C₆H₄.