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Review
. 2025 Jun 8;30(12):2511.
doi: 10.3390/molecules30122511.

Enantiomerically Pure ansa- η5-Complexes of Transition Metals as an Effective Tool for Chirality Transfer

Affiliations
Review

Enantiomerically Pure ansa- η5-Complexes of Transition Metals as an Effective Tool for Chirality Transfer

Pavel V Kovyazin et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Chiral ansa-η5-complexes of transition metals have shown remarkable efficacy in organometallic synthesis and catalysis. Additionally, enantiomerically pure ansa-complexes hold promise for the development of novel chiral materials and pharmaceuticals. The discovery and synthesis of a diverse range of group IVB and IIIB metal complexes represents a significant milestone in the advancement of stereoselective catalytic methods for constructing metal-C, C-C, C-H, and C-heteroatom bonds. The synthesis of enantiomerically pure metallocenes can be accomplished through several strategies: utilizing optically active precursors of η5-ligands, separation of diastereomers of complexes with enantiomerically pure agents, and synthesis via the stereocontrolled reactions of enantiomerically pure σ-complexes with prochiral anions of η5-ligands. This review focuses on the analysis of various nuances of the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ansa-η5-complexes of titanium and lanthanum families. Their applicability as effective catalysts in asymmetric carbomagnesiation, carbo- and cycloalumination, oligo- and polymerization, Diels-Alder cycloaddition, reactions of zirconaaziridines, cyclization, hydrosilylation, hydrogenation, hydroamination, and other processes are highlighted as well.

Keywords: ansa-metallocenes; asymmetric synthesis; enantiomerically pure complexes; reaction mechanisms; stereoselectivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Pathways for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ansa-complexes ([aux]*—chiral auxiliary).
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
Derivatization of Ti complexes rac-2a,b using S-binaphthol.
Scheme 3
Scheme 3
Derivatization of Zr complexes 5 and 6.
Scheme 4
Scheme 4
Derivatization of Ti bis-tetrahydroindenyl complex with S-binaphthol.
Scheme 5
Scheme 5
Resolution of bis-tetrahydroindenyl Ti and Zr complexes with R-acetylmandelic acid.
Scheme 6
Scheme 6
Derivatization of Ti complex rac-11 using S-binaphthol.
Scheme 7
Scheme 7
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure Zr complexes p-S,p-S-17 and p-S,p-S-18.
Scheme 8
Scheme 8
Resolution of racemic Ti (20a) and Zr (21a) complexes with R-binaphtholate and acetylmandelic acid.
Scheme 9
Scheme 9
Derivatization of complexes rac-11 (Ti) and rac-13 (Zr) with a mixture of R-binaphthol and p-aminobenzoic acid.
Scheme 10
Scheme 10
Separation of metallocenes rac-13 (Zr) and rac-28 (Hf) using chiral HPLC.
Scheme 11
Scheme 11
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure triflates of ansa-metallocenes Zr (29) and Ti (30).
Scheme 12
Scheme 12
Synthesis of Ti (p-S,p-S-34) and Zr (p-S,p-S-35) complexes starting from enantiomerically pure ligands.
Scheme 13
Scheme 13
Synthesis of optically active titanocene 38.
Scheme 14
Scheme 14
Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched Ti and Zr complexes from optically active Br-substituted binaphthyl precursors.
Scheme 15
Scheme 15
Synthesis and purification of metallocenes 4749.
Scheme 16
Scheme 16
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure titanocene 52.
Scheme 17
Scheme 17
Stereoselective synthesis of titanocene complexes p-S,p-S-58 and p-S,p-S-59.
Scheme 18
Scheme 18
Synthesis of optically active meso-isomers of complexes 62ac and 63ac.
Scheme 19
Scheme 19
Synthesis of optically active Zr complex meso-66.
Scheme 20
Scheme 20
Stereoselective synthesis of Zr complex p-R,p-R-68.
Scheme 21
Scheme 21
Polycyclic compounds as precursors in the synthesis of chiral titanocenes 7375.
Scheme 22
Scheme 22
Stabilization of ligand conformation as a significant factor in the stereoselective synthesis of chiral complexes.
Scheme 23
Scheme 23
Bis-amide R,R-82 in the synthesis of Ti complexes 47AC.
Scheme 24
Scheme 24
Effect of menthyl and neomenthyl substituent in Cp-ring on stereoselectivity of metal complex synthesis.
Scheme 25
Scheme 25
Synthesis of mixed menthyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl-octahydrofluorenyl ansa-complexes 93, 94.
Scheme 26
Scheme 26
Synthesis of diastereomeric complexes 98.
Scheme 27
Scheme 27
Synthesis of indenyl-fluorenyl ansa-zirconocene with a naphthyl bridge p-S-103.
Scheme 28
Scheme 28
Synthesis of complexes 109112.
Scheme 29
Scheme 29
Synthesis of enantiomerically pure C1-symmetric complexes S-116ac.
Scheme 30
Scheme 30
Effect of σ-ligand on the diastereoselectivity in the synthesis of complexes 122 and 123.
Scheme 31
Scheme 31
Preparation of enantiomerically pure ansa-complexes of group IIIB metals 127139.
Scheme 32
Scheme 32
Synthesis of chiral C1-symmetric organolanthanide complexes S-140ac and S-141ac.
Scheme 33
Scheme 33
Application of enantiomerically pure binaphthol-bridged ligands in the synthesis of ansa-yttrocenes.
Scheme 34
Scheme 34
R,R-enantiomer of Zr amide as a precursor in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ansa-complex p-S,p-S-151.
Scheme 35
Scheme 35
Enantioselective synthesis of Zr complex 13 via the association of ZrCl4 with enantiomerically pure S- or R-binaphthol ethers.
Scheme 36
Scheme 36
Complex p-R,p-R-13 as a stereoselective catalyst for alkene carbomagnesiation.
Scheme 37
Scheme 37
Carbomagnesation of heterocyclic alkenes catalyzed by enantiomerically pure complexes p-R,p-R-13 and R,p-R,p-R-16.
Scheme 38
Scheme 38
Carbomagnesation of rac-5,6-dihydropyrans, catalyzed with p-R,p-R-13.
Scheme 39
Scheme 39
Kinetic effect of p-R,p-R-13 in the ethylmagnesiation of pyrans.
Scheme 40
Scheme 40
Kinetic resolution of dihydrofurans in the presence of p-R,p-R-13.
Scheme 41
Scheme 41
Ethylmagnesiation of seven-membered cycloolefins catalyzed by p-R,p-R-16 or R,p-R,p-R-27.
Scheme 42
Scheme 42
Carbomagnesiation of cyclic alkoxy-substituted olefins 166av catalyzed by R,p-R,p-R-16 or S,p-S,p-S-16.
Scheme 43
Scheme 43
Carbomagnesiation of inactivated alkenes by MgEt2 in the presence of R,p-R,p-R-16.
Scheme 44
Scheme 44
Synthesis of homoallylic alcohols by the reaction of aldehydes with crotyl titanocenes.
Scheme 45
Scheme 45
Reaction of allyl- (171) and crotyltitanocenes (172) with aldehydes.
Scheme 46
Scheme 46
Carbometalation of aldehydes catalyzed by complex p-S,p-S-4b.
Scheme 47
Scheme 47
Dia- and enantioselectivity of titanocenes 52, 58, and 59 in the reactions of 2-alkyl-1,3-butadienes with CO2 or R’CHO.
Scheme 48
Scheme 48
Barbier-type carbonyl compound propargylation or allylation catalyzed with p-S,p-S-11.
Scheme 49
Scheme 49
Asymmetric Zr and Ti-catalyzed enantioselective carboalumination and cycloalumination of alkenes.
Scheme 50
Scheme 50
Mechanism of alkene methylalumination in the presence of enantiomerically pure ansa-zirconocene complexes.
Scheme 51
Scheme 51
Reaction of 2,5-dihydrofurans with AlEt3 catalyzed by complexes p-R,p-R-13 or R,p-R,p-R-16.
Scheme 52
Scheme 52
Propene polymerization in the presence of a catalytic system based on p-R,p-R-17 and MAO.
Scheme 53
Scheme 53
Polymerization of 1-pentene catalyzed by R,p-R,p-R-16 or p-R,p-R-17 and MAO, followed by treatment with D2.
Scheme 54
Scheme 54
Oligomerization of propene and 1-butene catalyzed by R,R,p-S,p-S-15 and MAO.
Scheme 55
Scheme 55
Cyclopolymerization of 1,5-hexadiene catalyzed by achiral precatalysts Cp2MX2 (M = Ti, Zr; X = Cl, Me) and MAO.
Scheme 56
Scheme 56
Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched styrene hydrooligomers catalyzed by complex p-R,p-R-16.
Scheme 57
Scheme 57
Kinetic resolution of racemic α-olefins bearing bulky substituents during polymerization catalyzed by enantiomerically pure S-116ad.
Scheme 58
Scheme 58
Stereoselectivity control model of propene polymerization catalyzed by enantiomerically pure S-116ad.
Scheme 59
Scheme 59
Stereocontrolled oligomerization of propylene via reaction with ZnEt2 in the presence of p-S,p-S-13 and MAO.
Scheme 60
Scheme 60
Oligomerization of 1-hexene catalyzed by enantiomerically pure Zr ansa-complexes.
Scheme 61
Scheme 61
Cycloaddition of enones with cyclopentadiene catalyzed by chiral Ti and Zr complexes.
Scheme 62
Scheme 62
Synthesis of zirconaaziridines from dimethyl complex p-S,p-S-17.
Scheme 63
Scheme 63
Asymmetric induction in the reaction of amines with alkynes, alkenes, or aldehydes catalyzed by zirconaaziridines 210.
Scheme 64
Scheme 64
Reactions of complexes 214 with various alkenes yielding metallocycles 215ad and synthesis of substituted pyridine 216 catalyzed by p-S,p-S-17.
Scheme 65
Scheme 65
Reactions of alkyl- or aryl-substituted zirconaziridine with ethylene carbonate or isocyanates yielding amino acid esters.
Scheme 66
Scheme 66
Proposed mechanism of stereoinduction in the reaction of substituted zirconaziridine with ethylene carbonate.
Scheme 67
Scheme 67
Reaction of the enantiomerically enriched imido-complex p-S,p-S-222 with allenes.
Scheme 68
Scheme 68
Pauson–Khand cyclo-condensation of enynes with carbon monoxide catalyzed with p-S,p-S-226.
Scheme 69
Scheme 69
Asymmetric cyclocarbonylation of nitrogen-containing enynes catalyzed with p-S,p-S-226.
Scheme 70
Scheme 70
Intramolecular asymmetric reductive coupling of ketones with nitriles catalyzed by p-R,p-R-11.
Scheme 71
Scheme 71
Asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones by polymeric methylhydrosiloxane Me3SiO[MeSi(H)O]nSiMe3 in the presence of R,p-R,p-R-12.
Scheme 72
Scheme 72
Hydrosilylation of ketones by silanes catalyzed with alkylated S,p-S,p-S-12.
Scheme 73
Scheme 73
Titanocene p-R,p-R-235 as an effective catalyst for the hydrosilylation of ketones by PhSiH3.
Scheme 74
Scheme 74
Mechanism of titanocene-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones by PhSiH3.
Scheme 75
Scheme 75
Reduction of aryl-substituted ketones by silanes catalyzed by Ti complexes S-88a, R-88a, p-S,p-S-38, and 1R,2R,4R,5R-53.
Scheme 76
Scheme 76
Asymmetric hydrogenation of imines catalyzed by R,p-R,p-R-12 and R,R,R-22.
Scheme 77
Scheme 77
Hydrogenation of 1,1-disubstituted enamines catalyzed with R,p-R,p-R-12.
Scheme 78
Scheme 78
Asymmetric hydrosilylation of N-aryl-substituted imines using PhSiH3 or PMHS in the presence of Ti complex p-S,p-S-235.
Scheme 79
Scheme 79
Hydrosilylation of rac-2,5-disubstituted pyrroles in the presence of the binaphtholate complex S,p-S,p-S-12.
Scheme 80
Scheme 80
Kinetic resolution of N-alkyl imines derived from 3-substituted indanones and 4-substituted tetralones.
Scheme 81
Scheme 81
Hydrosilylation of phenylbutene by PhSiH3 in the presence of samarium complexes R- or S-137a.
Scheme 82
Scheme 82
Hydrogenation of 2-phenylbut-1-ene and styrene deuteration catalyzed with Zr, Ti, or Sm complexes.
Scheme 83
Scheme 83
Hydrogenation of trisubstituted olefins in the presence of Ti complex S,p-S,p-S-12.
Scheme 84
Scheme 84
Hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted olefins in the presence of p-R,p-R- or p-S,p-S-17 and [PhMe2NH]+[B(C6F5)4].
Scheme 85
Scheme 85
Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched N-heterocycles.
Scheme 86
Scheme 86
Asymmetric hydroamination/cyclization of aminoalkenes catalyzed with lanthanide η5-complexes.
Scheme 87
Scheme 87
Asymmetric reduction/cyclization of amino- and phosphinoalkenes in the presence of complexes with octahydrofluorenyl ligand S-141ac.
Scheme 88
Scheme 88
Cyclization of aminodienes and aminoalkenes in the presence of complexes S-141a, S-133b or S-134b.
Scheme 89
Scheme 89
Asymmetric catalytic epoxidation of alkyl- and aryl-substituted alkenes.
Scheme 90
Scheme 90
Ring-opening of epoxides in the presence of pure ansa-titanocene p-S,p-S-11.
Scheme 91
Scheme 91
Homocoupling of benzaldehyde catalyzed with titanocene complexes 52 and 53.
Scheme 92
Scheme 92
Ti-catalyzed synthesis of γ-lactol (+)-285.
Scheme 93
Scheme 93
Enantioselective isomerization of trans- or cis-4-tert-butyl-1-vinylcyclohexanes in the presence of chiral titanium ansa-complexes 52 or 73.

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