A new
ruthenium chloride complex featuring chirality derived from
the face-specific coordination of the 1-Me-3-PhCp ligand has been
successfully synthesized and resolved. The resolution has been achieved
via the diastereomers of the (S)-α-methyl-benzenemethanethiolate
complex (1-Me-3-PhCp)Ru(dppm){(S)-C(S)(H)(Ph)(Me)}.
The X-ray structures of (S
Cp,S)-(1-Me-3-PhCp)Ru(dppm){C(S)(H)(Ph)(Me)} and (R
Cp,S)-(1-Me-3-PhCp)Ru(dppm){C(S)(H)(Ph)(Me)}
have been determined. Racemization has been observed at elevated temperatures,
but a room-temperature conversion pathway provides access to the corresponding
enantiopure acetonitrile, chloride, and hydride complexes.