Citation: Haitao Liu, Youlin Deng, Dan Ling, Lingzhu Chen, Zhichao Jin. Asymmetric catalysis for the synthesis of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(3): 111793. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111793 shu

Asymmetric catalysis for the synthesis of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives

State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China

lzchen@gzu.edu.cn

zcjin@gzu.edu.cn

Received Date: 20 May 2025
Revised Date: 19 August 2025
Accepted Date: 4 September 2025
Available Online: 5 September 2025

Figures(34)

The asymmetric catalytic synthesis of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives has received dramatic attention in recent years. Transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling reactions and CH functionalization reactions have played significant roles in the stereoselective construction of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives. Transition metals such as copper, palladium, rhodium, iridium, gold, and platinum have been adopted as the effective catalysts in combination with various chiral ligands to achieve satisfactory yields and stereoselectivity. Organic catalysts have also shown great potential in the synthesis of planar chiral ferrocenes. Chiral amines and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been the key catalysts for facile access to multi-functional ferrocene derivatives. Some of the planar chiral ferrocene molecules obtained from the above methods have demonstrated promising applications in the development of novel ligands for asymmetric synthesis and pesticides for plant protection. This review provides an overview on the key progresses in the catalytic synthesis of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives using transition metal catalysts and organic catalysts. The merits, challenges and potential directions in the future development within this highly active research field are also discussed at the end of this review.
- Ferrocene derivatives,
- Planar chirality,
- Asymmetric catalysis,
- Desymmetrization,
- Kinetic resolution
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