Direct enantiospecific substitution of primary α-aminoalkylferrocenes via Lewis acid-catalyzed C–N bond cleavage

Abstract

Highly enantioenriched primary α-aminoalkylferrocenes were found to undergo zinc chloride-catalyzed substitution with various carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur nucleophiles in an enantiospecific fashion through C-N bond cleavage. The reaction tolerates air and moisture and exhibits high atom-economy by releasing ammonia as the sole byproduct.