2, 3, 11, 12-Tetramethoxy-3b, 4, 5, 6-tetrahydro-8H-7a-aza-benzo [fg] naphthacen-7-one 7 was synthesized via N-acyliminium ion cyclization of 6-hydroxy-1-(2, 3, 6, 7-tetramethoxyphenanthren- 9-yl-methyl)-piperidin-2-one 6 catalyzed by BF3⋅OEt2. The stereostructure of the intermediate, 1-(2, 3, 6, 7-tetramethoxy-phenanthren-9-yl-methyl)-piperidine-2, 6-dione 5, was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 7 showed no cytotoxicity.

In the title compound, [Ru(C4H3N2S)2(C18H15P)2]·CHCl3, the Ru atom has a distorted octahedral environment formed by two S and two N atoms from the pyrimidine-2-thiolate ligands and two P atoms from the triphenylphosphine ligands. Intramolecular π–πinteractions between the pyrimidine and phenyl rings of triphenylphosphine are observed.

A series of chromic complexes with binaphthyl Schiff base as ligands are synthesized. Their catalytic abilities in asymmetric epoxidation and the effects of reaction conditions such as temperature, solvent and additive have also been studied, leading to the highest ee of 65% for 4-chlorostyrene; the reaction seems to involve a Cr(V)-oxo active species.

Palladium (Ⅱ) binaphthyl Schiff base complexes [PdII(L)] (1:H2L=(racemic or R)-2,2’-bis (3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-1,1’-binaphthyl (H2L2); 2:H2L=(R)-2,2’-bis (3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxylbenzylideneamino)-5,5’,6,6’,7,7’,8,8’-octahydro-1,1’-binaphthyl (H2L3)) were prepared from sequential reactions of H2L with sodium methoxide and palladium(Ⅱ) acetate in methanol in about 70% yields. Both complexes 1 and 2 have been characterised by X-ray crystallography as well as 1H NMR, IR, UV/VIS and MS spectroscopy. The structures of 1 and 2 feature a pseudo planar N2O2 arrangement with the Schiff base ligands adopting a stepped conformation, in contrast to the non-planar N2O2 geometry usually observed for this type of Schiff base bound to various metal ions. The catalytic behaviour of complexes 1 and 2 toward asymmetric epoxidation of styrenes was investigated. With 2 as a catalyst, a 71% ee was obtained for the epoxidation of p-fluorostyrene by tBuOOH.

Three optically active Molybdenum (VI) dioxo complexes with tetrahydro salen and substituted tetrahydro salen derivatives as ligands were synthesized and examined as catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation. Complexes of the type MoO2(L)(Solv) and WO2(L) (L=tridentate, trans-2-aminocyclohexanol derived chiral Schiff base, Solv=alcohol) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR and IR spectroscopy. These complexes are applicable as catalysts for olefin epoxidation reactions with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) being the oxidizing agent. In case of cis-β-methylstyrene moderate enantiomeric excesses of up to 26% can be reached when the reaction is carried out at 0℃.