Asymmetric Cyanosilylation of Aldehydes Catalyzed by Novel Chiral Tetraaza-Titanium Complexes

The asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide ­(TMSCN) to a range of aldehydes was efficiently catalyzed by a novel, easily prepared C2-symmetric chiral tetraaza-Ti(IV) complex in high yields with up to 92% ee under mild conditions. A negative nonlinear effect between the ee of the ligand and the ee of the ­product was observed.