Synthesis, crystal structure and application in regio- and stereoselective epoxidation of allylic alcohols of a titanium binaphthyl-bridged Schiff base complex

A new octahedral titanium binaphthyl-bridged Schiff base complex (1) was synthesized and characterized. Analysis by 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography indicated that the C1-symmetric cis-β isomer is preferentially formed as one of the two possible enantiomeric couples of diasteroisomers. The catalytic behaviour of the complex 1 toward epoxidation of allylic alcohols was investigated. Using only 0.5% mol of the complex 1 the epoxyalcohols are obtained in very high regio-, chemo- and diastereoselctive way by the MW exposure of the mixture in solvent free-conditions.