posted on 2022-03-04, 19:39authored byChangming Xu, Xiangfan Li, Lei Bai
Aerobic α-hydroxylation of
α-methylene esters has proven
challenging due to overoxidation and hydrolysis of the materials.
In this article, KOtBu-promoted TBAB-catalyzed
α-hydroxylation of α-methylene aryl esters using O2 as the oxygen source has been developed. Both low reaction
temperature and catalyst TBAB are keys to success. This reaction provides
an environmentally friendly and low-cost approach to mandelates, which
are valuable building blocks and widely present in pharmaceuticals.