Recoverable polystyrene-supported catalysts for Sharpless allylic alcohols epoxidations

Abstract

In this work, new heterogeneous catalysts intended for enantioselective Sharpless epoxidation were prepared. The catalysts are based on Ti(IV) complexes of cross-linked swellable spherical copolymer beads of styrene with ethyl-(4-vinylbenzyl)-L-tartrate, or with ethyl-(2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-5-(4-vinylphenyl)pentanoate. These catalysts were tested in epoxidation of cinnamyl alcohols. High conversion (up to 99%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) were achieved in the case of catalysts based on copolymers of styrene with ethyl-(4-vinylbenzyl)-L-tartrate (5, 20, 50%). Unfortunately, the copolymers lost their enantioselectivity due to the leaching of L-tartrate, caused by alcoholysis of ester bond. This problem has been overcome by replacing the ester bond by a stable keto bond. The prepared catalyst based on the copolymer of styrene with ethyl-(2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-5-(4-vinylphenyl)pentanoate (20%) achieved a similarly high conversion and enantioselectivity as in the previous case (up to 99%, up to 99% ee) and was successfully recycled.