The chiral complexes [Ru(2)(PNNP)]2+ (4a) and [Ru(3)(PNNP)]2+ (4b), containing the non-enolized 1,3-dicarbonyl
compounds 2-((tert-butoxy)carbonyl)cyclopentanone (2) or
α-acetyl-N-benzyl-δ-valerolactam (3), were deprotonated to the
enolato complexes 5a,b. Complex 4a has a pseudo-aqueous pK
a
value of 4.6 ± 0.5 (with pK
a(Ph3PH+) = 2.7 as reference) and
catalyzes the 1,4-addition of 2 to methyl vinyl ketone with up
to 79% ee.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.