Recent advances in cooperative bimetallic asymmetric catalysis: Dinuclear Schiff base complexes

Abstract

Cooperative catalysis has proven to be a powerful strategy for realizing high reactivity and selectivity in asymmetric transformations. A variety of cooperative asymmetric catalysts have been developed over the last two decades. In this feature article, recent advances from our research on cooperative asymmetric catalysis, focusing on dinuclear Schiff base catalysis, are described. Design of dinuclear Schiff base catalysts and their applications in several asymmetric C–C and C–N bond-forming reactions under simple proton transfer conditions with perfect atom-economy are discussed in detail. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.