In situ generation of sulfoxides with predetermined chirality via a structural template with a chiral-at-metal ruthenium complex

The reaction of Delta/Delta-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py) 2] (2+) with a prochiral sulfide ligand, and then in situ oxidation, provide the corresponding Delta-[Ru(bpy)(2){(R)-OSO- iPr}](+) and Delta-[Ru(bpy)(2){(S)-OSO- iPr}]+ (OSO-iPr = 2-isopropylsulfonylbenzonate) enantiomers in a yield of 83% with 98% ee. The chiral sulfoxides were obtained by treatment of the sulfoxide complexes with TFA in a yield of 90% with 88-91% ee.