Tricarbonyl (eta(6) arene) chromium(0) complex derived from 8-phenylmenthol chiral auxiliary

(-)-8-Phenylmenthol was prepared and converted to the corresponding tricarb onyl (eta(6)-arene) chromium(0) complex. Derivitization as the acrylate est er (1) and subsequent X-ray analysis revealed a 1:1 mix of s-cis and s-tran s acrylate in the unit cell, and geometric proximity to support a through-s pace a stacking interaction in the case of the s-trans isomer. The dihedral angle between the best planes through the chromium-bound aryl ring and the acrylate group is 19.9 degrees for the s-trans isomer and 34.4 degrees for the s-cis isomer. Crystal data for (1): C22H26O5Cr, monoclinic, P2(1) (No. 4), a = 10.269(1), b = 10.482(1), c = 19.787(2), beta = 95.85(1), Z = 4, a nd D-calc = 1.32 g cm(-3).