Single enantiomer propeller-shaped polynuclear complexes as catalysts-proof-of-concept for enantioinduction in a Michael addition reaction

Single enantiomer propeller-shaped polynuclear complexes as catalysts-proof-of-concept for enantioinduction in a Michael addition reaction

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We report a family of propeller-shaped polynuclear metal complexes whose overall chirality is dictated Rotisserie Spike by a single stereogenic centre within their component amino alcohol-ligand.These topologically intriguing complexes are readily prepared in enantiomerically pure form and are shown here to catalyse the conjugate addition of barbituric acids and their derivatives to nitroalkenes, with a catalyst loading of 1 mol%.Although only low levels of enantioinduction are observed, control experiments indicate that the enantioselectivity is dictated N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) by the overall topology of the complex and not governed by binding to the tetrametallic entity, heralding a potentially new mode of catalysis.