Novel chiral bidentate eta(5)-cyclopentadienylphosphine ligands: Their asymmetric induction at the ruthenium(II) center and application in catalysis

The syntheses of four classes of novel ruthenium(II) complexes with chiral bidentate cyclopentadienylphosphine ligands and their application in asymme tric catalysis are described. This approach to an enantioselective reconsti tutive condensation was assisted by molecular modeling to deal with the que stion of asymmetric induction at the metal center and lead to a more precis e understanding of the enantiodiscriminating step. The catalysts were routi nely tested towards the enantioselective reconstitutive condensation of eth yl undecynoate and cyclohexyl-2-propen-1-ol to provide ethyl 12-cyclohexyl- 11-oxo-13-tetradecenoate.