A novel photocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol derivatives by oxidative coupling of 3-substituted-2-naphthol with Δ-[Ru(menbpy)3]2+[menbpy = 4,4′-di(1R,2S,5R)-(–)-menthoxycarbonyl-2,2′-bipyridine], which posseses molecular helicity

Abstract

The asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [or (R)-(+)-1,1 ′-bi-3-methoxy-2-naphthol] from 2-naphthol (or 3-methoxy-2-naphthol) is performed photocatalytically by using the chiral ruthenium complex, M(C₃)-Δ-[Ru(menbpy)₃]²⁺[M(C₃)= counterclockwise molecular helicity along the C₃ axis, menbpy = 4,4′-di(1R,2S,5R)-(–)-menthoxycarbonyl-2,2′-bipyridine] as a photosensitizer and[Co(acac)₃](acac^–= acetylacetonato) as an oxidant.