An investigation into structural effects on the catalytic activity of chiral metal-ligand complexes

This thesis describes investigations into the structural effects of chiral compounds on catalytic activity. The synthesis of new chiral molecules, their characterization, and their catalytic effects on asymmetric reactions have been identified as the main targets. This thesis consists of seven chapters. In the first chapter, the concept of chirality and enantiomerism are explained and general information about asymmetric synthesis is given. In the second chapter, the use of tridentate chiral ligands as catalysts in the asymmetric Henry reaction is described. Starting from amino acids, amino alcohol derivatives were obtained, from which chiral Schiff base and reduced amino alcohol compounds were synthesized and characterized and the substituent effects were investigated on the Henry reaction in the presence of Cu(OAc)2.nH2O. In the third chapter the catalytic effect of copper complexes prepared from chiral amino alcohols and aromatic aldehydes in the Henry reaction are described. In the fourth chapter, the enantioselective effects of different carboxylate salts as Cu (II) salt instead of copper acetate are described. The ligand, synthesized in the second chapter and providing the best enantiomeric selectivity with high yield, was selected and interacted with different copper salts. In the fifth chapter, the use of chiral amino alcohols and chiral ligands derived therefrom are described. The synthesized bidentate chiral ligands were reacted with Cu(OAc)2.nH2O for carrying out the asymmetric Henry reaction. In the sixth chapter, the effects of β-amino alcohols and tertiary amino alcohol derivatives formed by their methylation on asymmetric reactions are described. Through the ring opening of epoxides, new bidentate chiral ligands were synthesized. The catalytic effects were investigated in the asymmetric Henry and transfer hydrogenation reactions. In the seventh chapter, structural effects observed in Cu (II) catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction in previous chapters are presented in general summary.