Synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity of group 4 complexes with new chiral binaphthyldiamine-based ligands

Five group 4 metal complexes (1)2Zr(NMe2)2 (5), (2)2Ti(NMe2)2 (6), (2)2Zr(NMe2)2 (7), (3)2Zr (8) and (4)2Ti(NMe2)2 (9) have been readily prepared from the reaction between M(NMe2)4 (M = Ti, Zr) and chiral binaphthyldiamine-based ligands, (R)-2,2′-bis(diphenylthiophosphoramino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (1H2), (R)-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-2,2′-bis(diphenylthiophosphoramino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (2H2), (R)-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-2,2′-bis(methanesulphonylamino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (3H2), and C1-symmetric ligand, (R)-2-(mesitylenesulphonylamino)-2′-(dimethylamino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (4H). All the complexes have been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction analyses. The zirconium amides are active catalysts for the asymmetric hydroamination/cyclization of aminoalkenes, affording cyclic amines in good yields with moderate ee (enantiomeric excess) values.