Abstract
Some chiral rare earth metal complexes were prepared and used as efficient catalysts for various enantioselective reactions. Rare earth organophosphates effectively catalyzed the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction (up to 99% ee), the Michael addition of nitrogen-nucleophiles (up to 99% ee), and the electrophilic fluorination of β-keto esters (up to 88% ee). Epoxidation of conjugated enones using chiral lanthanum complexes prepared in situ from lanthanum triisopropoxide, (R)-BINOL, triarylphosphine oxide, and alkyl hydroperoxide, afforded the desired products in excellent chemical yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Also, chiral and porous polymeric lanthanum complex (particle size : 50-200 nm) prepared by the self-organization of lanthanum ion, a chiral ligand containing two or three (R)-BINOL units linked with multi-ways spacer, and an achiral ligand, was found to work as an excellent reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the enantioselective epoxidation (99% ee in the third run using the recovered catalyst). The catalyst system could also be successfully applied to the flow reaction. Remarkably large positive non-linear effects (asymmetric amplification) were observed in these reactions.