Enantioselective pinacol coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by chiral vanadium complexes

Abstract: The asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes by chiral salan–vanadium complexes as effective catalysts is reported. Chiral 1,2-diols were obtained with high diastereoselectivities (up to 90/10) and moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 82% ee). The possible mechanism of the pinacol coupling reaction is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]