Synthesis, Characterization, and Study of Catalytic Activity of Chiral Cu(II) and Ni(II) Salen Complexes in the α-Amino Acid C-α Alkylation Reaction.

A new family of Cu(II) and Ni(II) salen complexes was synthesized and fully characterized through various physicochemical methods. Their catalytic activity was evaluated in the phase transfer C-alkylation reaction of the Schiff bases of D,L-alanine ester and benzaldehyde derivatives. It was found that the introduction of a chlorine atom into the - and -positions of the phenyl ring of the substrate resulted in an increase in both the chemical yield and the asymmetric induction ( 66-98%).