Copper(II) in Organic Synthesis. XI. Evaluation of the Ligand Architecture on the Efficiency of a Copper(II) Catalyst for Enantioselective Michael Reactions.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(95)00130-Z

Several bis-copper(II) complexes with chiral ligands derived from 2-substituted 2-(salicylideneamino)ethanols have been tested as catalysts of enantioselective Michael reactions.The degree of enantioselection is strongly affected by the architecture of the ligand.The best result (75percent e.e.) was obtained for a ligand having a substituent potentially suitable to induce the formation of a bis-tetradentate copper(II) complex with a square pyramidal coordination.