Cp*rhodium complexes with salicyloxazolines: Diastereoselective synthesis, configurational stability and use as asymmetric catalysts for a Diels-Alder reaction
Reaction of [RhCl2Cp*](2) (Cp* = eta-C5Me5) with salicyloxazolines in the presence of NaOMe gives complexes [RhCl(R-saloxaz)Cp*] (1-4) which have been fully characterised. The diastereoselectivity of complexation depends on the substituents and the absolute configuration at the metal centre is unstable in solution. Treatment of 2 with 4-methylpyridine and NaSbF6 in methanol at reflux gave [Rh(4-Mepy) {(S)-Pr-i-saloxaz} Cp*][SbF6](5) whilst [Rh(OH2)(Me-2-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF6](6) was prepared by reaction of 1 with AgSbF6. Three complexes. [RhCl(Me-2-saloxaz)Cp*] (1), [RhCl{(S)-Pr-i-saloxaz}Cp*] (2), and [Rh(OH2)(Me-2-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF6] (6) have been characterised bv X-ray crystallography. Some of the complexes, after treatment with AgSbF6, have been tested as enantioselective catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction of methacrolein with cyclopentadiene. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.