Reversal of enantioselective Friedel-Crafts C3-alkylation of pyrrole by slightly tuning the amide units of N,N'-dioxide ligands.

Abstract

Chiral Ni(ii)-complexes of N,N'-dioxides show high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in catalysing the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts C3-alkylation of 2,5-dimethyl pyrrole to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters. A dramatic reversal of enantioselectivity is realized with ligands derived from the same type of chiral source of l-ramipril, by slightly tuning the amide units.