Fluorous biphasic hydrolytic kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides

Although application of light-fluorous techniques facilitates the isolation of reaction products from the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of terminal epoxides catalysed by cobalt complexes of salen ligands, the extension of the original fluorous biphasic approach to this reaction is far from being a trivial exercise. The nature of the counter anion has a dramatic effect on the catalytic activity of heavily fluorinated chiral (salen) cobalt(III) complexes. Excellent enantioselectivities are obtained in the fluorous biphasic HKR of 1,2-hexene oxide when fluorinated anions are introduced (e.e.s up to 99% both for the diol and the epoxide), with C8F17COO– affording reaction rates even higher than those observed with non-fluorous systems.