Access to Planar Chiral Ferrocenes via N‑Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrization Reactions

Ferrocene-derived dicarbaldehydes
bearing pro-chiral planes are
desymmetrized under the catalysis of chiral N-heterocyclic carbene
organic catalysts. The reaction features selective activation and
reaction of one of the aldehyde moieties of the ferrocene derivative
while leaving the other aldehyde unit untouched. Our reaction affords
enantiomerically enriched planar chiral ferrocene products obtained
that are amenable for further transformations. Preliminary application
studies show encouraging results when our products are explored for
catalysis in chemical synthesis and for antimicrobial utilities in
pesticide development.