Chiral aluminum complexes as catalysts in asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger reactions of cyclobutanones

Abstract

BINOL-aluminum complexes were successfully employed as mediators and catalysts in asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger rearrangements of cyclobutanones. Good enantioselectivies were achieved with only 15 mol% of the chosen chiral Lewis acid. The enantiomeric excesses obtained have never been reached before in such metal-catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger reactions.Key words: aluminum, asymmetric catalysis, lactones, oxidations, rearrangement.