A Cationic Ruthenium Complex for the Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols

• Published in: Chemistry - A European Journal
• Main Authors: Fernandez Salas, Jose Antonio, Manzini, Simone, Nolan, Steven Patrick
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/a-cationic-ruthenium-complex-for-the-dynamic-kinetic-resolution-of-secondary-alcohols(4234f443-6449-463a-bc38-77b89db13dc6).html; https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201404096

A synthetic protocol making use of a well-defined cationic ruthenium complex 2 enabling the racemization of enantiomerically pure secondary alcohols in the presence of a weak base (K2CO3) is described. The compatibility of 2 with Candida Antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) allows the development of an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols in the absence of an additional strong base. This procedure involves the first example of a dynamic kinetic resolution of alcohols in the presence of a cationic ruthenium catalyst. In addition, we describe the conversion of ketones to the enantio enriched acetates in a one-pot reaction, probing the versatility of complex 2.