Ring-Expansion Reactions of Binaphthyl Azepines and Ferrocenophanes through Metal-Catalyzed [1,2]-Stevens Rearrangements

Enantiopure binaphthyl azocines can be prepared in a single step via the direct copper-catalyzed reaction of binaphthyl azepines and alpha-diazo carbonyl reagents. The [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement is general ( 61-93% yields) and can be extended to [3]ferrocenophanes; similar reactivity in favor of the products of ring expansion is obtained with these ferrocene derivatives (80-96% yields).