Studies directed toward the synthesis of chiral tungsten and molybdenum carbonyl complexes

A major challenge that must be met for an asymmetric intermolecular Pauson–Khand reaction is to be able to limit the possible positions on the metal complex for the organic partners. Toward this end, the synthesis of monometallic systems derived from M(CO)6 and two bidentate ligands, in which the number of possible coordination sites is reduced to two, has been investigated.

Graphical abstractLimiting the number of coordination sites in hexacoordinated monometallic complexes with two bidentate ligands and having chirality on one or both of the ligands could offer an effective strategy for achieving enantioselective Pauson–Khand reactions. Synthetic efforts to prepare such complexes are reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide