📋 Workflow
Full workflow, products add-to-cart directly1
Pre-form the chiral catalyst
40 minMix metal precursor and chiral ligand at the right ratio in a glovebox or Schlenk tube.
💡 Tip Pre-stir 10–30 min for ligand coordination equilibrium
⚠️ Caution O₂ and water cut enantioselectivity
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2
Substrate and system prep
30 minDissolve substrate in dry DCM, add the catalyst solution, set reaction temperature.
💡 Tip Lower temperature usually boosts enantioselectivity
⚠️ Caution Rapid warm-up can invert configuration
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3
Run the asymmetric reaction
4–6 hMaintain temperature and stirring, introduce H₂ or hydride source slowly, sample periodically.
💡 Tip Monitor conversion and ee from periodic aliquots
⚠️ Caution H₂ is flammable; control pressure and ventilation
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4
Workup
1–2 hQuench, extract, remove the metal catalyst, and purify by column chromatography.
💡 Tip Scavenge residual metal with charcoal or thiourea
⚠️ Caution Residual metal affects product purity
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5
Verify enantiopurity
1 hDetermine ee and rotation by chiral HPLC column and polarimeter.
💡 Tip A reference standard improves quantitation
⚠️ Caution Avoid misassigning peaks on the chiral column
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
⚠️ 5 Common Beginner Mistakes
- ① Wrong ligand-to-metal ratio kills selectivity
- ② Trace water/O₂ drops the ee
- ③ High temperature inverts or erodes selectivity
- ④ Adding catalyst without pre-formation gives uneven activity
- ⑤ Residual metal interferes with ee measurement
❓ FAQ
+How to assess ee magnitude?
Quantify by chiral HPLC/UPLC, cross-check with optical rotation.
+How to choose a ligand?
Pick an established efficient system for the reaction, then screen on your substrate.
+Why is ee often higher at low T?
Low T enlarges the energy difference between diastereomeric transition states.