Synthesis of aryl(ferrocenyl)methanols via an enantioselective addition of arylboronic acids

Enantiomerically enriched ferrocenyl alcohols are important intermediates in the synthesis of a range of chiral ferrocene-derived ligands. We studied various possibilities for their synthesis by the catalytic enantioselective addition of arylboronic acids to ferrocenyl carbonyl compounds. The best system comprised of ferrocenyl oxazolinyl alcohol as a catalyst and an arylation reagent generated from a boronic acid and diethylzinc. Aryl ferrocenyl methanols were synthesized in yields of up to 97% and with enantiomeric purities of up to er 98:2.