Preparation, structure and catalytic activity of copper(II) complexes of novel 4,4′-BOX ligands

This Letter details the synthesis of two new 4,4′-bisoxazoline (BOX) ligands. The copper(II) complex of one of the new ligands is structurally determined. The catalytic performance of the copper(II) complexes of the novel ligands, and that of our recently described phenyl AraBOX ligand in Diels–Alder reactions are reported. We have used the structural information to propose an explanation of a curious variation in the diastereoselectivity obtained in the case of one ligand complex.