ИСТИНА

Copper(II) coordination polymers (CPs) containing organic ligands are very attractive due to their potential application in catalysis, sensor, nonlinear optical, and magnetic materials. Chiral copper(II) CPs were also used as catalysts for asymmetric reactions. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of chiral copper(II) CPs based on Schiff bases of (S)-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine and salicylaldehyde derivatives including both Lewis and Brønsted acid/basic functions. In addition, their application as catalysts in enantioselective Henry reaction was detailed. It was demonstrated that the CPs catalyzed the enantioselective Henry reaction with up to 82% ee. The mechanism of the reaction was kinetically studied and involved two Cu-complexes, acting in concert with both Cu-ions and NH-centers activating the substrates. The bridging OAc-ion functioned as the basic group, deprotonating nitromethane molecules. The step was found to be the rate-limiting in the reaction with the observed kinetic isotope effect equal (KIE) 6.4.