Asymmetric Counteranion-Directed Iron Catalysis: A Highly Enantioselective Sulfoxidation

A highly active and enantioselective ion-pair sulfoxidation catalyst, consisting of an achiral iron(III)-salen cation and a chiral phosphate counteranion, mediates the oxidization of various sulfides with high yields and enantioselectivities. The enantioselectivities observed, especially for electron-poor substrates, represent the best results so far in manganese and iron-salen systems. This work represents the first application of our concept of asymmetric counteranion-directed catalysis (ACDC) to iron catalysis.