Chiral arene ruthenium complexes as asymmetric Diels–Alder catalysts

Abstract

The cation [RuCl(L)(η 6 -mes)] + [L = 4-isopropyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-oxazoline] is synthesised diastereoselectively; treatment with AgSbF 6 gives a dication which is an enantioselective catalyst for the asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene.