Dual activation in a homolytic coupling reaction promoted by an enantioselective dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst

A new concept of dual activation catalysis in homolytic coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives is described. The dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst (R,S,S)-1a promotes the oxidative coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives with high reactivity and enantioselectivity. This dual activation mechanism is supported by the fact that the reaction rate of oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol promoted by the (R,S,S)-1a is 48 times faster than that of the mononuclear complex (S)-3 and a lower catalyst loading of (R,S,S)-1a shows higher catalyst efficiency both in enantioselectivity and chemical yield.