Synthesis and Reactivities of Enantiomerically Pure β-Hydroxyalkyl and β-Aminoalkyl Ferrocenyl Sulfides

Enantiomerically pure β-hydroxyalkyl and β-aminoalkyl ferrocenyl sulfides have been synthesized in good yields from mercaptoferrocene and amino alcohol derivatives. Primary β-aminoalkyl sulfides allowed the synthesis of tetrahydro-1,4-thiazepines containing the ferrocene moiety with good diastereoselectivity and β-iminoalkyl sulfides. Some of these derivatives have successfully been employed as ligands for palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution, with asymmetric induction of up to 99% ee. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)