The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Oxford Asymmetry International Plc

Thorn Emi Plc

Stephen G Davies

Mario Eugenio Polywka

David Roy Fenwick

Timothy Richardson

Gareth G Roberts

Frank Reed

Mario E Polywka

Hitesh Jayantilal Sanganee

Chiral syntheses

Chiral auxiliaries

Stereoselective syntheses

Chiral imidazolidones and imidazolidinethiones having the general formula: ##STR1## where (a) Z is either oxygen or sulphur

Chiral auxiliaries and their use in the synthesis of chiral molecules

##STR1## Compounds having general formula (I) wherein (i) Cp is either a cyclopentadienyl ligand having the formula C.sub.5 (R.sup.3).sub.5 where the R.sup.3 groups are independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl or an indenyl ligand; (ii) Z is a ligand having the formula X(R.sup.4).sub.2 (Y) wherein X is selected from phosphorus, arsenic or antimony; the R.sup.4 groups are independently aryl or aroxy and Y is selected from --R.sup.5 --NHR.sup.5 and --OR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is a hydrocarbyl group; (iii) the R groups are independently hydrogen, halogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl; (iv) R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, benzyl and --CO.sub.2 R.sup.6 where R.sup.6 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl; (v) R.sup.2 is selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl, phenyl and benzyl, and (vi) B is either R or COY wherein Y is selected from --NHR.sup.7, --OR.sup.7 and --SR.sup.7 where R.sup.7 is a hydrocarbyl group is provided. The compounds are efficient asymmetric hydrogenating agents for prochiral carbonyl containing compounds when used in single enantiomer form.

Chiral organoiron complexes and use for assymetric reduction

A process for preparing single enantiomers of chiral sulphoxides is provided. The process involves (a) reacting an achiral sulphur-containing compound, e.g. a disulphide, with a single enantiomer of a chiral template having the formula T-(CO)-CH.sub.2 R.sup.1, wherein T is suitably (eta.sup.5 -C.sub.5 H.sub.5)Fe(CO)(PPh.sub.3)- (Ph=phenyl) and (b) thereafter stereospecifically oxidizing the sulphur atom with an oxidizing agent. A single enantiomer of the chiral sulphoxide can then be generated by reacting the oxidized product with a carbanion. In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is thereafter treated with further achiral sulphide to provide a process which is catalytic on the chiral template.

Process for preparing chiral sulphoxides

A process for preparing single enantiomers of chiral sulphoxides is provided. The process involves (a) reacting an achiral sulphur-containing, e.g. a disulphide, with a single enantiomer of a chiral template having the formula T--(CO)--CH.sub.2 R.sup.1, wherein T is suitably (eta.sup.5 --C.sub.5 H.sub.5)Fe(CO)(PPh.sub.3)-- (Ph=phenyl) and (b) thereafter sterospecifically oxidizing the sulphur atom with an oxidizing agent. A single enantiomer of the chiral sulphoxide can then be generated by reacting the oxidized product with a carbanion. In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is thereafter treated with further achiral sulphide to provide a process which is catalytic on the chiral template.

Langmuir Blodgett films are provided having second order molecular hyperpolarizability of at least 30.10.sup.-50 C.sup.3 m.sup.3 J.sup.-2. combined with chemical stability and a melting point of over 70.degree.. They also have desirable pyroelectric properties shown by a static pyroelectric coefficient of at least 0.0039 nCcm.sup.2 k.sup.-1. The films comprise compounds of the following formula: ##STR1## wherein M is ruthenium, iron or cobalt; R.sup.1 is cyclopentadienyl, methylcyclopentadienyl, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl or indenyl;

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Oxford, United Kingdom

Stephen G Davies