Kinetic Resolution of Alcohols under Aerobic Conditions

Significance

Ikariya’s group has developed a series of complexes of type 2 that successfully promote the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones. In this report, they extend the utility of bifunctional catalyst 2 to aerobic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols. The reaction provides highly enantioenriched alcohols under mild conditions with good yields. Development of the novel hydrogen-transfer reaction involving molecular oxygen reported here presents a significant contribution to the area of kinetic resolution.