Octahedral Chiral-at-Metal Complexes as Inert Scaffolds for the Design of Asymmetric Catalysts

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Eric Leif Meggers
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259002125

In asymmetric catalysis, the source of chirality is a crucial aspect for the catalysts function and is typically derived from one or more tetrahedral stereogenic centers, axial chirality, planar chirality, or a combination thereof. This proposal has the main objective to investigate the use inert chiral-at-metal octahedral metal complexes as templates for the design of asymmetric catalysts. In this concept, the metal fulfills a purely structural role, whereas catalysis is mediated through functional groups properly arranged in the three-dimensional ligand sphere of the inert metal complexes. Particularly, chiral-at-metal cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes will be used for the design of asymmetric enamine catalysts, asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysts, and asymmetric acyl transfer catalysts. This proposed research may contribute to the development of a novel class of asymmetric catalysts which are based on metal-containing scaffolds but apply the concepts of asymmetric organocatalysis for their catalytic mechanisms.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants