The use of a chiral borate counteranion as a 1H NMR shift reagent for cationic copper(I) complexes

Abstract

The chiral borate counteranion bis[(R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphtholato]borate (1–) has been found to be a competent chiral 1H NMR shift reagent for cationic copper(I) complexes. This has been demonstrated by the addition of the Cu(NCMe)4+ salt of 1– to two classes of common chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis: 2,2′-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (tol-BINAP) (2) and 2,2′-isopropylidenebis(4-phenyl-2-oxazoline) (3). In the case of ligand 2, the addition of 1 equiv. of either (R,R)-2 or (S,S)-2 to Cu(NCMe)4+1– results in well-resolved 1H NMR resonances for the two enantiomers. Examination of standard solutions of non-enantiopure 2 shows that the copper complex can be an effective NMR shift reagent of a wide range of enantiomeric compositions. Cu(NCMe)4+1– also generates distinct 1H NMR resonances for the two separate enantiomers of 2,2′-isopropylidenebis(4-phenyl-2-oxazoline) (3). However, attempts to employ this copper salt as a chiral NMR shift reagent for rac-3 led to the discovery of a new and unexpected equilibrium: [(R,R)-3]Cu+ + [(S,S)-3]Cu+ [Formula: see text] [(R,R)-3][(S,S)-3]Cu+ + Cu+. Key words: chiral counteranion, copper, chiral NMR shift reagent, ion pairing.