FORMATION OF A VINYLCARBENE COMPLEX OF CHIRAL BIS(4-ISOPROPYLOXAZOLIN-2-YL)PYRIDINE-DICHLORORUTHENIUM(II) FROM 3,3-DIPHENYLCYCLOPROPENE

A chiral vinylcarbene complex, (pybox)RuCl2(=CH-CH=CPh2) 3, [pybox = 2,6-Bis(4(S)-isopropyloxazolin-2-yl)pyridine], was obtained by reaction of (pybox)RuCl2(C2H4) 1 and 3,3-diphenylcyclopropene 2 at 60 °C for 4h. Asymmetric transfer of the vinylcarbene moiety from 3 to styrene was realized to give the corresponding trans- and cis-vinylcyclopropanes 7 and 8 in 74% yield with 53% ee and 56% ee, respectively.