Aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols with bidentate ligand-binding Ru(salen) complex as catalyst

Chiral Ru(salen)(nitrosyl) complex 1 is a useful catalyst for asymmetric aerobic oxidation of alcohols under photo-irradiation. In this study, it was found that addition of β-hydroxy ketone or 1,3-diketone had a significant influence on its asymmetric catalysis. For example, the addition of 1,3-bis(p-bromophenyl)propane-1,3-dione 9 improved the relative reaction ratio in kinetic resolution of simple racemic secondary alcohols up to 30, while the addition gave an adverse effect on desymmetrization of an acyclic meso-1,3-diol. This additive effect was considered to be attributable to the chelate formation of the β-hydroxy ketone or 1,3-diketone with a Ru(salen) complex.