Reinventing phenanthroline ligands - Chiral derivatives for asymmetric catalysis?

Over the last three decades, the rational design of chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis has increasingly replaced the trial-and-error approach. A well-known analytical reagent, 1,10-phenanthroline, is now being employed as a template for the development of chiral ligands. In most cases these heterocyclic ligands have been functionalized in the peripheral region utilizing three prevailing ligand templates. Chiral groups are either introduced in the 2-, 3-, 8- and/or 9-position (I, II) or are incorporated by ring fusion to phenanthroline (III). ( Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).