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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Published on: January 17, 2020
Development of bifunctional aza-bis(oxazoline) copper catalysts for enantioselective Henry reaction
Kai Lang1, Jongwoo Park, Sukwon Hong
1Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, USA.
Abstract:
Base-functionalized aza-bis(oxazoline) ligands were prepared to explore the concept of dual activation through the Lewis acid and a tethered tertiary amine base. The catalytic activity of the Cu complex was evaluated for the asymmetric Henry reaction. Compared with a corresponding unfunctionalized copper complex with external 1-benzyl-4-ethylpiperazine base, the ethylpiperazine-functionalized aza-bis(oxazoline) copper catalyst resulted in rate acceleration (2.5 times) as well as improved enantioselectivity (72% ee vs 92% ee).
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