Metal-controlled Reversal of Enantioselectivity in Catalyzed Asymmetric Ring-opening Reactions of <i>meso</i>-Epoxides in Water

Abstract

Abstract Reversal of enantioselectivity in Cu–chiral bipyridine catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reactions of meso-epoxides with indole and aniline derivatives was observed compared to Sc–chiral bipyridine catalyzed reactions, where the same chiral ligand was used. It was revealed from X-ray crystal structural analysis that a square pyramidal structure for the Cu(II) complex and a pentagonal bipyramidal structure for the Sc(III) complex were formed, which could explain the reversal of the enantioselectivity.