title: Desymmetrization of meso 1,3- and 1,4-diols with a dinuclear zinc asymmetric catalyst.
abstract: A dinuclear asymmetric zinc catalyst generated by mixing a 2:1 ratio of diethylzinc and 2,6-bis[5-2-diarylhydroxy methyl-1-pyrrolidinyl]-4-methylphenol has been contrasted with enzymes for the desymmetrization of some meso diols. The best ligand has a p-biphenylyl group as the aromatic substituent defining the chiral space. A series of 2-substituted propanediols were examined. The best acyl transfer agent proved to be vinyl benzoate. Diacylation normally did not occur. The phenyl substituted substrate gave 91-95% ee which compares favorably with the best ee of 92% reported for an enzymatic desymmetrization. The methyl substituted substrate gave significantly better results with the dinuclear zinc catalyst (89% yield, 82% ee) as compared to the best enzymatic esterification (70% yield, 60% ee). One case of a 1,4-diol, cis-1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, also gave much better results with the dinuclear zinc catalysts (93% yield, 91% ee) as compared to the reported enzymatic process (44% yield, 7% ee). A model to rationalize the results is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080, USA. bmtrost@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mino
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D020005:Propanols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D020005:Propanols; C454811:diethylzinc