Epoxide deoxygenation mediated by Salen complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01880-8

N,N'-Bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminocobalt(II) (1) catalyzes the reductive deoxygenation of epoxides by Na(Hg) in THE with 5-10 catalytic turnovers. The simpler N,N'- bis(salicylidene)ethylenediaminocobalt(II) [Co(Salen)₂] (16) failed to catalyze deoxygenations in THF but did in DMF.