The catalytic activity of new chiral salen complexes immobilized on MCM-41 in the asymmetric hydrolysis of epoxides to diols

Abstract

The synthesis of MCM-41 type mesoporous material has been performed by the solvent evaporation method. The chiral salen Co(III)(OAc) complexes are immobilized on a siliceous MCM-41 through the multi-step anchoring and applied as catalysts in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides to diols. The incorporation of salen complexes onto the mesoporous material is demonstrated by UV–Vis spectroscopy, and tested with the catalytic hydrolysis reaction. The chiral salen Co(III) complexes catalyze the hydrolysis of epichlorohydine, 1,2-epoxyhexane, epoxystyrene and epoxycyclohexane under very mild conditions. This reaction can proceed in acetonitrile and THF solvents.