Gearing Effects\non <i>N</i>‑9-Anth-PyBidine-Cu(OAc)<sub>2</sub>‑Catalyzed\nAsymmetric Direct Haloimidation Reactions\nof Alkylidenemalononitriles

A newly developed <i>N</i>-9-anthranylmethyl\nbis(imidazolidine)pyridine\n(<i>N</i>-9-Anth-PyBidine)-Cu(OAc)<sub>2</sub> complex catalyzed\nasymmetric haloimidation reactions of alkylidenemalononitriles with <i>N</i>-bromosuccinimide and <i>N</i>-chlorosuccinimide,\nemploying the succinimide moiety directly as a copper-bound nucleophile.\nThe anthranyl substituent showed a gearing effect that produced a\nwell-organized asymmetric sphere involving the <i>N</i>-H\nproton of the imidazolidine ring in the ligand. The gearing effect\nafforded hydrogen bonding-assisted copper-catalyzed haloimidation\nreactions with high enantioselectivity.