An enantioselective synthesis of optically pure azaferrocenyl anions--first general and practical approach to chiral azaferrocenes.

[reaction: see text] Herein we report a very simple route that allows the construction of a variety of optically pure azaferrocenyl compounds. The key feature is the preparation of optically pure 2-azaferrocenyl anions, which can serve as precursors for the construction of novel chiral azaferrocenyl complexes.