Cooperative
asymmetric catalysts often offer advantages in terms
of activity, stereoselectivity, and generality as compared to more
traditional single point activation catalysts. In cooperative bimetallic
catalysis, the intermetallic distance is a crucial parameter for the
outcome of a reaction and an optimal synergy of both metal centers.
We have recently developed a number of catalytic asymmetric reactions,
which are efficiently catalyzed by a planar chiral ferrocene based
bispalladacycle and for which the cooperativity of two Pd centers
has already been demonstrated. To get more insight into the role of
the Pd/Pd distance in such metallocene bismetallacycles, in the present
study a corresponding ruthenocene based Pd2-complex has
been prepared by the first direct diastereoselective biscyclopalladation
of a chiral ruthenocene ligand. In addition, the first highly diastereoselective
direct monocyclopalladation of a homochiral ruthenocene is reported.
The effect of the increased Cp/Cp distance within the ruthenocene
bispalladacycle has been examined in four catalytic asymmetric applications:
the aza-Claisen rearrangement of Z-configured allylic N-aryltrifluoroacetimidates, the direct 1,4-addition of
α-cyanoacetates to enones, a tandem azlactone formation/1,4-addition
to enones and a tandem reaction to form quaternary α-aminosuccinimides
by in situ azlactone formation, 1,4-addition to a nitroolefin, and
a Nef-type nitro-to-carbonyl transformation as key steps. For each
reaction studied, it was found that with some substrates the ferrocene
based catalyst is superior, whereas for other substrates the ruthenocene
backbone is more favorable. The ruthenocene based bispalladacycle
can thus be considered to be a useful and complementary alternative
for cooperative bimetallic catalysis.