Efficient resolution of a dinuclear triple helicate by asymmetric extraction/precipitation with TRISPHAT anions as resolving agents.

Tetradentate 1,2-bis[4-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)]ethane ligand (3) and Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2.6H2O combine in a 3:2 ratio to form the racemic helicate [Fe2L3]4+ (4), as reported by Elliott et al. We now show that the enantiomeric purity of 4 can be efficiently measured by 1H NMR by the use of the TRISPHAT (1) salt as a chiral shift reagent. Large differences in chemical shifts (deltadeltadelta of up to 0.3 ppm, 20% [D6]DMSO in CD3CN) are observed between the enantiomers of 4 upon addition of [nBu4N][delta-1]. The resolution of 4 by asymmetric extraction was attempted: addition of an organic solution of [cinchonidinium][delta-1] salt (2 equiv) to an aqueous solution of helicate 4-(SO4)2 led, after vigorous stirring, to the extraction of the homochiral diastereomer [P-4][delta-1]4 into the organic layer along with the precipitation of the heterochiral diastereomer [M-4][delta-1]4 at the interface (diastereomeric ratio>49:1 for both processes). An enantioenriched fraction of [P-4][SO4]2 remained in the aqueous layer. To obtain only two fractions of resolved helicate and develop this procedure into an efficient resolution protocol, four equivalents of [cinchonidinium][delta-1] salt were used as the resolving agent. Chemically and diastereomerically pure [P-4][delta-1]4 and [M-4][delta-1]4 helicate salts were then obtained in excellent yields.