Photocatalytic deracemisation of cobalt(iii) complexes with fourfold stereogenicity

The deracemisation of fourfold stereogenic cobalt(iii) diketonates with a chiral photocatalyst is described. With only 0.5 mol% menthyl Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) photocatalyst, an enantiomeric enrichment of up to 88 : 12 e.r. was obtained for the major meridional diastereomers. Moreover, a distribution of configurationally stable diastereomers distinct from the thermodynamic ratio was observed upon reaching the photostationary state.

Automated summary

This study describes the deracemisation of fourfold stereogenic cobalt(III) diketonates using a chiral photocatalyst. An enantiomeric enrichment of up to 88:12 e.r. was achieved for the major meridional diastereomers with a low concentration of the photocatalyst, and a distribution of configurationally stable diastereomers distinct from the thermodynamic ratio was observed upon reaching the photostationary state.