Post-Modification of Octahedral Chiral-at-Metal Cobalt(III) Complexes by Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling and Evaluation of Their Catalytic Activity

A family of well-defined Λ- and Δ-configured octahedral cationic chiral-at-cobalt catalysts were expanded through a straightforward postcomplexation of the bromine-functionalized Co(III) complexes based on (R,R)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and (S,S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction (CCR) with arylboronic acids. The corresponding modified Co(III) complexes were isolated by standard silica column chromatography with up to 65% yields. Indeed, it is the first example of the direct modification of the ligand sphere of chiral Co(III) catalysts through Suzuki–Miyaura CCR. It was observed for the first time that the chiral metal center is epimerized during the cross-coupling process at the transmetalation stage on palladium catalyst in the case of minor diastereomers of Co(III) complexes (Δ(R,R)-1 and Λ(S,S)-2). Next, the efficacies of obtained chiral metal-templated complexes 1–4 were evaluated in benchmark asymmetric reactions in order to compare their catalytic activity. Chiral Co(III) complexes 1–4 have been examined as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) catalysts in such important reactions as epoxidation of chalcone and the fixation of CO2 into valuable cyclic carbonates.