Bioinspired enantioselective catalysis: Racemic or achiral metal complexes grafted on mesoporous material functionalized with chiral molecules

Racemic or achiral phosphine based Hybrid Bidentate Ligands were grafted on mesoporous zirconium oxide and the corresponding rhodium complexes formed. In order to use them as enantioselective catalysts an additional grafting of enantiopure cheap chiral carboxylic acids issuing from the chiral pool was undertaken. The resulting catalytic materials were tested in the hydrogenation of acetophenone and yielded 13% e.e. in the best case. This demonstrates the potentiality of the immobilization of achiral catalysts in enantiopure self assembled monolayers.