The reaction of 2-fluoronitrobenzene with 2, 2′-biphenol or (R)-binaphthol, followed by reduction and subsequent reaction of the resulting diamine with two equivalents of a salicylaldehyde, affords expanded salen-type ligands having backbones based on biphenol or binaphthol: salbipH2,(R)-salbinH2 and (R)-salbin (t-Bu) 4H2. Deprotonation of these ligands with sodium methoxide or potassium hydride, followed by metallation with M (OAc) ...