Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of a Novel Series of Diastereomeric Dirhodium(II) Tetracarboxamidates. Catalysts for Asymmetric Diazoacetate Transformations

Abstract

The synthesis and structure of a set of diastereomeric dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl (4S)-1-acyl-2- oxoimidazolidine-4-carboxylate] compounds are described, including one X-ray crystal structure. With the N-acyl moiety based on the mandelic acid enantiomers, these represent the first examples which incorporate an addititional stereogenic centre in proximity to the axial sites of the dirhodium(II) face. The preliminary catalytic profiles of these diastereomeric complexes are also reported.