The chiral mononuclear complex of Re(I)-NOBIN Schiff base (NOBIN=1-amino-10-hydroxylbinaphthyl) was synthesized via the reaction of Re(CO)5Cl and corresponding tridentate ligand in methanol. The structure analysis reveals that the central metal coordinates with nitrogen atom of imine and oxygen atom of salicylaldehyde form a six-membered ring, while the left uncoordinated phenol group adjacent to the binaphthyl backbone forms a hydrogen bonding with water molecule coordinated with the Re(I) ion. This mononuclear complex shows some catalytic ability in asymmetric epoxidation and aziridination with moderate results

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.

Investigations on the catalytic behaviour of titanium complexes formed in situ from Ti(OPri)4 and a variety of Schiff bases, mainly the binaphthyl derivatives 2,2’-bis(3-R1-5-R2-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-1,1’-binaphthyl, toward the asymmetric trimethylsilylcyanation of some aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes demonstrated that the titanium complex of the binaphthyl Schiff base with R1=R2=But is one of the best catalysts for such a process, with an enantiomeric excess (e.e.) as high as 96% obtained for m-tolualdehyde. Crystal structure determination of a nitrosylruthenium complex, [RuII(L)(NO)Cl] (L is the dianion of the binaphthyl Schiff base with R1=R2=Cl), revealed that the complex assumes a cis-β configuration with the binaphthyl moiety having a dihedral angle of 70.2. After treatment with AgPF6, the ruthenium complex also exhibited a good catalytic property for the trimethylsilylcyanation of benzaldehyde albeit with a lower e.e. (24%).

Molybdenum (Ⅵ)-cis-dioxo complexes bearing sugar derived chiral Schiff-base ligands of general formula MoO2(L)(Solv) have been synthesized (with L=N-salicylidene-glucosamine; N-salicylidene-1,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-α-glucosamine; N-5-chlorosalicylaldehyde-1,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-α-glucosamine; N-salicylaldehyde-1,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-β-glucosamine; N-5-chlorosalicylaldehyde-1,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-β-glucosamine; N-salicylidene-4,6-Oethylidene-β-glucopyranosylamine, and Solv=methanol or ethanol). Analytical data including IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, MS and EA are in accord with their descriptions as monometallic compounds with one ligand L and a coordinated solvent molecule. One of the complexes and two of the chiral ligands have been examined by X-ray crystallography. In the case of the sugar-OH groups being protected as acetyl groups, one of them is selectively deacetylated and coordinates to the metal centre during the reaction process. Furthermore, an inversion takes place at the C1 carbon atom. This uncommon behaviour has been examined in some detail. The high catalytic activity of the title compounds for epoxidation is also described as well as the moderate enantiomeric induction of up to 30% ee for cis-β-methyl styrene.

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.