文摘
Photocatalytic enantioselective epoxidation of terminal olefins using a mononuclear non-heme chiral manganese catalyst, [(R,R-BQCN)MnII]2+, and water as an oxygen source yields epoxides with relatively high enantioselectivities (e.g., up to 60% enantiomeric excess). A synthetic mononuclear non-heme chiral Mn(IV)–oxo complex, [(R,R-BQCN)MnIV(O)]2+, affords similar enantioselectivities in the epoxidation of terminal olefins under stoichiometric reaction conditions. Mechanistic details of each individual step of the photoinduced catalysis, including formation of the Mn(IV)–oxo intermediate, are discussed on the basis of combined results of laser flash photolysis and other spectroscopic methods.