Chiral 3,3,3',3'-Tetramethyl-1,1'-Spirobiindanyl Cyclopentadienyl (TMSCp) Ligands: Design, Synthesis, and Applications.

Chiral cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rhodium(III) are powerful catalysts for achieving asymmetric C-H activation. This paper describes the design and synthesis of a new type of chiral Cp ligand bearing a chiral 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobiindanyl backbone. It features convenient synthesis, easy modification, and relatively low cost. Moreover, it holds great potential in achieving asymmetric C-H activation as exemplified by four examples examined in this work.