Mechanistic study of asymmetric oxidative biaryl coupling: evidence for self-processing of the copper catalyst to achieve control of oxidase vs oxygenase activity.

Copper(I) and copper(II) 1,5-diaza-cis-decalin complexes [(N2)Cu] are effective precatalysts for aerobic oxidative coupling of naphthol substrates. Mechanistic studies, however, reveal that these complexes are not the reactive form of the catalyst under steady-state conditions. Rather, the active catalyst forms in a presteady-state self-processing step that involves oxygenation of the naphthol substrate. The oxygenated substrate, NapHOX, serves as a cofactor that combines with the (N2)Cu complexes to achieve highly selective, steady-state oxidase reactivity (aerobic oxidative biaryl coupling).

Enantioselective oxidative biaryl coupling reactions catalyzed by 1,5-diazadecalin metal complexes: efficient formation of chiral functionalized BINOL derivatives.

Chiral 1,5-diaza-cis-decalins have been examined as ligands in the enantioselective oxidative biaryl coupling of substituted 2-naphthol derivatives. Under the optimal conditions employing 2.5-10 mol % of a 1,5-diaza-cis-decalin copper(II) catalyst with oxygen as the oxidant, enantioselective couplings (44-96% ee) could be achieved for a range of 3-substituted 2-naphthols including the ester, ketone, phosphonyl, and sulfonyl derivatives. The relationship between the substitution of the naphthalene starting materials and reactivity/selectivity is determined by several factors which act in concert: (1) the effect of substituents on the oxidation potential of the substrate, (2) the ability of the substrate to participate in a chelated copper complex which depends on (a) the inherent coordinating ability of the 3-substituent and (b) substituent steric interactions that affect chelation between the 2-hydroxyl and 3-substituent, (3) the effect of substituents on dissociation of the product from the copper catalyst.