Enantioselective epoxidation of non-functionalized alkenes using carbohydrate based salen-Mn(III) complexes

Three new salen ligands with carbohydrate moieties were prepared from a salicylaldehyde derivative obtained by reaction of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose with 3-tert-butyl-5-(chloro-methyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. These ligands were coordinated with Mn(III) to give three chiral salen-Mn(III) complexes. The complexes were characterized and employed in the asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized alkenes. Catalytic results showed that although there are no chiral groups on the diimine bridge, these complexes had some enantioselectivity, which indicates the carbohydrate moiety has an asymmetric inducing effect in the epoxidation reaction.