Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of planar-chiral metallocenes and their application to optically active polymers

Abstract

Novel methods of preparing planar-chiral ferrocenes and phosphaferrocenes was developed. The methods were based on asymmetric metathesis reactions and the products were obtained nearly optically pure forms. The mechanism of the stereoselectivity will be discussed in detail. The products were converted to the corresponding butadiene-bridged ferrocenophanes with retention of the optical purity, which could served as monomers for ROMP. The polymers obtained by the ROMP process were optically active with high-stereoregularity.