Bifunctional Asymmetric Catalysis Based on Dinuclear Schiff Base Complexes

Abstract

In this account, work in our group on the development and applications of a new family of bimetallic, bifunctional asymmetric catalysts based on dinucleating Schiff bases is described. Suitable design of the dinucleating Schiff bases led to the successful development of heterobimetallic transition metal/rare earth metal catalysts as well as homobimetallic transition metal/transition metal catalysts. The concepts involved in catalyst design, applications to asymmetric reactions, mechanistic insights into bimetallic catalysis as well as the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of biologically active compounds are introduced.