Shibasaki catalyst

They are named after Masakatsu Shibasaki, whose group first developed them, and are used as asymmetric catalysts.

The Shibasaki group produced the first chiral lanthanide-binaphtholate complex in 1992, which was used to catalyse nitroaldol reactions.

This success led to further research which resulted in the development of heterometallic complexes with the formula [Ln(binol)3(M)3], the structure of which was elucidated by X-ray crystallography.

[6] Their effectiveness arises in part from their ability to act as both a Brønsted base by virtue of the metal alkoxide and a Lewis acid via the lanthanide ion.

[8] It was observed that alterations of Ln and M caused predictable changes in the bite angle of the binaphthol backbone.