Alkyl Complexes of Lanthanum and Samarium Supported by a Chiral Binaphthylamido Ligand. Syntheses, Structures, and Catalytic Activity in Hydroamination of Amino-1,3-dienes

The reactions of (R)-(+)2,2'-bis(cydopentylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyldiamine with [Li(THF)(n)](3)[LnMe(6)] (Ln = La, Sm) in THF at 0 degrees C depending on the metal ion size result in the formation of trinuclear [(R)-C20H12(NC5H9)(2)]Sm[(mu-Me)Li(THF)(2)(mu-Me)Li(THF)] (1) or tetranuclear [(R)-C20H12(NC5H9)(2)]La{(mu-Me)(2)Li(THF)[(mu-Me)Li(THF)](2)} (2) complexes with methyl ligands mu-bridging lanthanide and lithium atoms. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solution NMR studies. These new complexes were evaluated as catalysts to promote the enantioselective hydroamination of amino-1,3-dienes.