ENANTIOSELECTIVE ALLYLIC OXIDATION IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CU(I) CU(II)-PROLINE CATALYTIC-SYSTEM/

Optically active allylic esters have been obtained with ee's up to 54% by acyloxylation of the corresponding alkenes with t-BuOOC(O)Ph or t- BuOOH + RCOOH in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper compounds and homochiral aminoacids ((S)- and (R)-prolines and their structural analogs). The influence of the nature of the alkene and acyl groups, the oxidant, solvent and chiral promotor on the enantioselectivity has been studied. A key role of CuL(2) (L* = aminoacid) in the enantiose lective catalysis is suspected.