Synthesis and crystal structure of bis[(4S,5S)-4,5-dihydro-4,5-diphenyl-2-(2′-oxidophenyl-χO)oxazole-χN]copper(II) and its application in the asymmetric Baeyer–Villiger reaction

Two new oxazolines (3 and 4) and their copper complexes (5 and 6) were synthesized. The four compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and 1H-NMR, IR, MS spectrometry. The molecular structure of compound 6 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The four coordinate atoms [N(1), N(2), O(2), O(4)] and the central metal atom (Cu) form a saddle configuration. Compounds 5 and 6 were found to be moderately effective in the catalytic asymmetric Baeyer–Villiger reaction of 2-phenylcyclohexanone.