A two step procedure for the synthesis of chiral tetradentate sulfonam
ide ligands is reported. The ligands are easily prepared from the corr
esponding bissulfonamide complexes by directed metallation followed by
quenching with either ketones or carbon dioxide in 47 to 82% yield. P
reliminary results indicate that these complexes are efficient catalys
ts in the asymmetric addition of alkyl groups to aldehydes. (C) 1997 E
lsevier Science Ltd.