Synthesis and application of bimetallic chiral [Co(salen)]-type complexes:: a new catalytic approach to synthesis of optically pure β-blockers via kinetic resolution of epichlorohydrin

A series of bimetallic chiral [Co(salen)]-type complexes were successfully applied for the synthesis of optically pure beta-blockers via phenolic kinetic resolution (PKR) of racemic epichlorohydrin [2-(chloromethyl)oxirane; (+/-)ECH]. The reaction proceeded readily at room temperature and consequently provided enantiomerically enriched corresponding alpha-aryloxy alcohols with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee. The PKR method described in this work is highly efficient and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of chiral building blocks. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.