Chiral (Cyclopentadienone)iron Complexes for the Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones

Three chiral (cyclopentadienone)iron complexes derived from (R)-BINOL (CK1-3) were synthesized and their structures unambiguously confirmed by X-ray analysis (CK3). Under suitable conditions for the in situ conversion into the corresponding (hydroxycyclopentadienyl)iron hydrides (Me3NO, H-2), the new chiral complexes were tested in the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones, showing moderate to good enantioselectivity. In particular, the complex bearing methoxy substituents at the 3,3-positions of the binaphthyl moiety (CK2) proved remarkably more enantioselective than the unsubstituted one (CK1) and reached the highest level of enantioselectivity (up to 77% ee) ever obtained with chiral (cyclopentadienone)iron complexes.