A practical synthesis of optically active aromatic epoxides via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-chlorinated ketones with chiral rhodium–diamine catalyst

A practical method for the synthesis of optically active aromatic epoxides has been developed via the formation of optically active α-chlorinated alcohols and intramolecular etherification. Optically active alcohols with up to 99% ee can be obtained from the asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 1000–5000 using a formic acid/triethylamine mixture containing a well-defined chiral Rh complex, Cp*RhCl[(R,R)-Tsdpen]. The asymmetric reduction of α-chlorinated aromatic ketones with a chiral Rh catalyst is characterized by a rapid and carbonyl group-selective transformation because of the coordinatively saturated nature of diamine-based Cp*Rh(III) hydride complexes. The outcome of the reduction is significantly influenced by the structures of the ketonic substrates as well as the hydrogen source such as formic acid or 2-propanol. Commercially available reagents and solvents can be used in this reaction without special purification. This epoxide synthetic process in either a one- or two-pot procedure is practical and particularly useful for the large-scale production of optically active styrene oxides from α-chlorinated ketones.