Synthesis and structure of chiral-at-metal complexes with the ligand (S)-2-[(Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline

Half-sandwich complexes of formula [(ηn-ring)MClL]PF6 [L = (S)-2-[(Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline; (ηn-ring)M = (η5-C5Me5)Rh; (η5-C5Me5)Ir; (η6-p-MeC6H4iPr)Ru; (η6-p-MeC6H4iPr)Os] have been prepared and spectroscopically characterised. The molecular structures of the rhodium and iridium compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The related solvate complexes [(η5-C5Me5)ML(Me2CO)]2+ (M = Rh, Ir) are active catalysts for the Diels–Alder reaction between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene.