TETRADENTATE LIGANDS AND METAL COMPLEXES THEREOF FOR ASYMMETRIC CATALYSIS

摘要

This invention relates to novel, substantially enantiomerically pure tetradentate ligands comprised of two phosphines and two secondary amines. These species have been used as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated good enantioselectivity, in particular as ruthenium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation. Also disclosed are methods for making the ligands, corresponding catalyst complexes, and processes employing the ligands and catalysts. The ligands may be described by the general formula (1): R2P-L1-NH-L2-NH-L3-PR12.