Highly enantioselective benzylic hydroxylation with concave type of (salen)manganese(III) complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)00603-6

Newly-designed optically active (salen)manganese(III) complexes (5) catalyze highly enantioselective benzylic hydroxylation and moderate level of enantiomer-differentiating oxidation (kinetic resolution) of the resulting benzylic alcohols. Thus, the enantiomeric excess of hydroxylation product was increased through kinetic resolution, as the reaction time was prolonged. For example, enantiomeric excess of 3,3-dimethylindan-1-ol, the hydroxylation product of 1,1-dimethylindan using 5a as a catalyst in chlorobenzene, was 84% alter 10 min and 90% after 20 h.