New vanadium oxazoline catalysts for epoxidation of allylic alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01711-6

The new vanadium complexes, VO(hoz)₂ 1 and VO(hoz)₂Cl 2 (hoz=2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline), catalyze the epoxidation of allylic alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide. Catalyst 2 with the oxidation state (V) exhibits superior activity in comparison to 1, producing yields from 88 to >99% under mild conditions, 60°C and non-dry solvent.