Application of chiral lithium amide base chemistry to the synthesis of planar chiral (arene)tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes

Asymmetric functionalisation of tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes of benzyl alkyl ethers using a dilithiated chiral amide base is the key step in a short and versatile synthesis of planar chiral (arene)tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes. The synthesis of four complexes of potential use in asymmetric catalysis is described herein together with the first demonstration that the asymmetric functionalisation mediated by this chiral base may be used to introduce phosphine substituents.