Enantioselective hydrolysis of amino acid esters by non-chiral copper complexes equipped with bis (β-cyclodextrin)s

The “back-to-back” bis(β-cyclodextrin) (bisCD) copper(II) complex, CuL1, was more effective than the “face-to-face” analog in enantioselective hydrolysis of alkyl chain-possessing amino acid esters. More pronounced enantioselectivity was achieved for the hydrolysis of the long alkyl-chain analogs. The vital role of the cooperation of adjacent CD cavities during the hydrolysis was revealed.