Chiral succinate enolate equivalents for the asymmetric synthesis of α-alkyl succinic acid derivatives
Abstract
Alkylation of the chiral iron succinoyl complex [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COCH2CH2CO2But] by sequential treatment with butyl-lithium and alkyl halides takes place highly regio- and stereo-selectively to generate β-alkyl substituted iron succinoyl complexes. These differentially protected chiral succinoyl complexes undergo oxidative decomplexation to provide homochiral α-alkyl succinic acid derivatives in high yield.