Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes of ruthenium(II) containing chiral diphosphines: reactivity towards BF3

Compounds (η5-C5Me5)Ru(L∧L)Cl (where L∧L is 2PPh3, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane or chiral homologs thereof) form adducts with BF3 that have a 1:2 stoichiometry. When the metal is a center of chirality, i.e. for complexes containing C1-symmetric diphosphines, the reaction takes place stereoselectively.