Scheme 7

3.6.4.5 Asymmetric Catalysis

3.6.4.5.1 C-C Bond Formation

Chiral iron complexes are used for asymmetric catalysis. One of the most common and useful complex is S -aceto(carbonyl)(cyclopentadienyl)(triphenylphosphine)iron. It is a chiral enol equivalent which when deprotonated can react with a variety of electrophiles to generate a variety of functionalized iron compounds. Thus, it can be alkylated with a high degree of enantioselectivity owing to the hindrance of attack by a phenyl group on one face. A mild oxidation of this organoiron complex releases the enantiomerically pure product (Scheme 7).

Scheme 7