Synthesis of diruthenium complexes containing chiral thiolate-bridged ligands and their application to catalytic propargylic alkylation of propargylic alcohols with acetone

Novel diruthenium complexes containing chiral thiolate-bridged ligands are synthesized and characterized crystallographically. The chiral diruthenium complexes promote enantioselective propargylic alkylation of propargylic, alcohols with acetone to give the corresponding propargylic alkylated products in good yields with moderate enantioselectivities (up to 35% ee).