Enantioselective cyanosilylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a multistereogenic salen-Mn(III) complex with a rotatable benzylic group as a helping hand

A multistereogenic salen-Mn(III) complex bearing an aromatic pocket and two benzylic groups as helping hands was found to be efficient in the catalysis of asymmetric cyanosilylation. The salen-Mn catalyst partially mimics the functions of biocatalysts by reasonably utilizing the steric and electronic properties of the catalytic center to interact with the substrate.