Cobalt(II) complexes of chiral bis-binaphthyl porphyrins were prepared, and their catalytic activity in the asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes with ethyl diazoacetate was examined. Good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 90% ee) were observed with cis/trans ratios reaching 11:89. UV−vis and 1H NMR studies suggest that the axial nitrogen ligand N-methylimidazole could play a role in changing the enantioselectivity of the reaction.

Three "basket handle" porphyrins have been prepared by condensation of tetrakis-(α,β,α,β-2-aminophenyl)porphyrin atropoisomer with 1,1′-binaphthyl, 2,2′-dimethoxy, -3,3′-dicarbonylchloride, -3,3′-diacetylchloride and -3,3′-dipropanoylchloride. The epoxidation of styrene with the three iron catalysts, obtained after metalation of the free porphyrins, occurs with good yields and moderate ee up to 54%. These porphyrins showed unexpected conformational differences, as revealed by NMR spectroscopy. In particular, variable temperature NMR studies showed that the methoxy group in one of them undergoes intermediate conformational exchange on the 1 H NMR time scale at room temperature. Lowering the temperature to -50 °C revealed the presence of four states in slow exchange on the NMR time scale. These results evidence a dynamic conformational equilibrium of the binaphthyl handles that adopt different, asymmetric positions with respect to the porphyrin plane.