Syntheses of Families of Enantiopure and Diastereopure Cobalt Catalysts Derived from Trications of the Formula [Co(NH2CHArCHArNH2)3]3+

Abstract

Aerobic reactions of CoX2 (X = OAc, Cl) or Co(ClO4)2 with (S,S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine [(S,S)-dpen] in CH3OH, followed by HCl or HClO4 additions, give the diastereomeric lipophobic salts Λ-[Co((S,S)-dpen)3]3+3Cl- [Λ-(S,S)-13+3Cl-] or Δ-(S,S)-13+3ClO4- (60-65%) with high degrees of selectivity. Anion metatheses (room temperature) and equilibrations (charcoal, CH3OH, 70 °C) show that the former is more stable than Δ-(S,S)-13+3Cl-, and the latter is more stable than Λ-(S,S)-13+3ClO4-. Additional anion metatheses lead to large families of lipophilic salts Λ- and Δ-(S,S)-13+2X-X′- [X/X′ = Cl/BArf [BArf = B(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)4], PF6/BArf, BF4/BArf, PhBF3/BArf, Cl/BArf20 [BArf20 = B(C6F5)4], BArf/BArf, BArf20/BArf20, BF4/BF4, PF6/PF6]. Mixed salts of the formula Λ- and Δ-[Co((S,S)-NH2CHArCHArNH2)3]3+2Cl-BArf- are similarly prepared (Ar = 4-C6H4n-Bu, 4-C6H4Cl, 4-C6H4CF3, 4-C6H4OCH3, α-naphthyl, β-naphthyl, 2-C6H4OBn). The diastereotopic NHH′ protons exhibit different 1H NMR signals; one shifts far downfield when X/X′ = Cl/BArf (δ ca. 8.0 vs 4.0 ppm). This is believed to arise from hydrogen bonding between the two Cl- anions and the two C3 faces of the D3-symmetric trication, each of which feature three synperiplanar NH groups. When all of the anions are poor hydrogen-bond acceptors (e.g., BArf-, BF4-, ClO4-), equilibria favor Δ diastereomers.