Chiral salicyloxazolines as auxiliaries for the asymmetric synthesis of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes

Chiral auxiliaries are promising emerging tools for the asymmetric synthesis of octahedral metal complexes. We recently introduced chiral salicyloxazolines as coordinating bidentate chiral ligands which provide excellent control over the metal-centered configuration in the course of ligand substitution reactions and can be removed afterward in an acid-induced fashion under complete retention of configuration (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 9602-9603). Here reported is our detailed investigation of this sequence of reactions, affording virtually enantiopure ruthenium polypyridyl complexes. The control of the metal-centered chirality by the coordinated chiral salicyloxazolinate ligand was evaluated as a function of reaction conditions, the employed bidentate 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands, and the substituent at the asymmetric 5-position of the oxazoline heterocycle. Most striking was the strong influence of the reaction solvent, with aprotic solvents of lower polarity providing the most favorable diastereoselectivities. Through a combination of computational and experimental results, it was revealed that the observed stereoselectivities are under thermodynamic control. The removal of the chiral salicyloxazoline auxiliary under retention of the configuration requires acidic conditions and a coordinating solvent such as MeCN or THF in order to prevent partial racemization. This method represents the first general strategy for the asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure heteroleptic ruthenium polypyridyl complexes.