Converging and Diverging Synthetic Strategies to Tetradentate (N,N′)-Diaminomethyl,(P,P′)-Ferrocenyl Ligands: Influence of tert-Butyl Groups on Ferrocene Backbone Conformation

From ferrocene to decasubstituted enantiopure ferrocene-1,1'-disulfoxide derivatives

The functionalization of (R,R)-S,S'-di-tert-butylferrocene-1,1'-disulfoxide by deprotolithiation-electrophilic trapping sequences was studied towards polysubstituted, enantiopure derivatives for which the properties were determined. While the 2,2'-disubstituted ferrocene derivatives were obtained as expected, subsequent functionalization of the 2,2'-di(phenylthio) and 2,2'-bis(trimethylsilyl) derivatives occurred primarily at the 4- or 4,4'-positions. This unusual regioselectivity was discussed in detail in light of pK_a values and structural data. The less sterically hindered 2,2'-difluorinated derivative yielded the expected 1,1',2,2',3,3'-hexasubstituted ferrocenes by the deprotometallation-trapping sequence. Further functionalization proved possible, leading to early examples of 1,1',2,2',3,3',4,4'-octa, nona and even decasubstituted ferrocenes. Some of the newly prepared ferrocene-1,1'-disulfoxides were tested as ligands for enantioselective catalysis and their electrochemical properties were investigated.

Ferrocene derivatives with planar chirality and their enantioseparation by liquid-phase techniques

In the last decade, planar chiral ferrocenes have attracted a growing interest in several fields, particularly in asymmetric catalysis, medicinal chemistry, chiroptical spectroscopy and electrochemistry. In this frame, the access to pure or enriched enantiomers of planar chiral ferrocenes has become essential, relying on the availability of efficient asymmetric synthesis procedures and enantioseparation methods. Despite this, in enantioseparation science, these metallocenes were not comprehensively explored, and very few systematic analytical studies were reported in this field so far. On the other hand, enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography has been frequently used by organic and organometallic chemists in order to measure the enantiomeric purity of planar chiral ferrocenes prepared by asymmetric synthesis. On these bases, this review aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview on the enantioseparation of planar chiral ferrocenes by discussing liquid-phase enantioseparation methods developed over time, integrating this main topic with the most relevant aspects of ferrocene chemistry. Thus, the main structural features of ferrocenes and the methods to model this class of metallocenes will be briefly summarized. In addition, planar chiral ferrocenes of applicative interest as well as the limits of asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of some classes of planar chiral ferrocenes will also be discussed with the aim to orient analytical scientists towards 'hot topics' and issues which are still open for accessing enantiomers of ferrocenes featured by planar chirality.

Hybrid Phosphine/Amino-Acid Ligands Built on Phenyl and Ferrocenyl Platforms: Application in the Suzuki Coupling of o-Dibromobenzene with Fluorophenylboronic Acid

We describe the synthesis and characterization of two classes of hybrid phosphino ligands functionalized with amino ester or amino acid groups. These compounds are built either on a rigid planar phenyl platform or on a functionalized - conformationally controlled - rotational ferrocene backbone. Modifications at the -PR2 phosphino groups (R=aryl and alkyl, with various steric bulk, Ph, Mes, i-Pr, Cy) and at the amino acid/amino ester functions are reported, showing a valuable high modularity. The coordination chemistry of these compounds regarding palladium and gold was investigated, in particular with respect to the coordination mode of the phosphino groups and the preferred interaction with metals for the amino ester and amino acid functions. For all the hybrid ligands, based either on ferrocenyl or phenyl platforms, the (P,N)-chelating effect dominates in solution for coordination to Pd(II), while linear P-Au(I) complexes without interaction with the amino groups are assumed. The investigation of the catalytic activity of these new ligands in the demanding palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of o-dibromoarenes with fluorophenylboronic acid underlined the importance of the amino ester dicyclohexylphosphinoferrocene for avoiding the deleterious homocoupling and arene oligomerization side-reactions that were otherwise observed with the other phosphine ligands.

A sterically congested 1,2-diphosphino-1′-boryl-ferrocene: synthesis, characterization and coordination to platinum

A unique tritopic (P, P, B)-ferrocene ambiphile with antagonist functions directly attached to a metallocene backbone is described.

A general diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized ferrocenyl ambiphiles enabled on a large scale by electrochemical purification

A diastereoselective modification of tert-butylated ferrocenes leads to highly functionalized constrained ambiphiles (P,B or N,B) and hybrids (P,N or P,P′) on a multigram scale by a smart electrochemical purification.