Asymmetric Epoxidation of Olefins Using Novel Chiral Dinuclear Mn(III)-Salen Complexes with Inherent Phase-Transfer Capability in Ionic Liquids

Two new chiral dinuclear Mn(III)-Salen complexes with inherent phase-transfer capability have been synthesized, which serve as catalysts in the asymmetric epoxidation of nonfunctionalized alkenes. Experimental results show these complexes are effective catalysts for the asymmetric epoxidation of some cyclic alkenes and the catalysts have certain inherent phase-transfer capability during the epoxidation because of their weak water solubility. In general, good enantioselectivity and acceptable yields were achieved when NaClO was used as oxidant under three different reaction systems. Among these alkenes, the catalyst 6a gave the highest ee (94%) for 6-chloro-2,2-dimethylchromene in the presence of ionic liquid 2. Additionally, the recovery and recycling of one dimeric Mn(III)-Salen complex were tested to investigate atom efficiency of the catalyst in different reaction systems on the alkenes epoxidations. The catalyst 6a could be recovered and recycled for six times without losing activity and selectivity. Chirality 23: 69-75, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.