"Cofactor"-controlled enantioselective catalysis

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Nov 2;133(43):17176-9. doi: 10.1021/ja208589c. Epub 2011 Oct 11.

Abstract

We report an achiral bisphosphine rhodium complex equipped with a binding site for the recognition of chiral anion guests. Upon binding small chiral guests--cofactors--the rhodium complex becomes chiral and can thus be used for asymmetric catalysis. Screening of a library of cofactors revealed that the best cofactors lead to hydrogenation catalysts that form the products with high enantioselectivity (ee's up to 99%). Interestingly, a competition experiment shows that even in a mixture of 12 cofactors high ee is obtained, indicating that the complex based on the best cofactor dominates the catalysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Phosphines / chemistry*
  • Rhodium / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Phosphines
  • Rhodium