3.5.6.6 Oxidative Addition

Cobalt(II) chloride has been shown as effective catalyst for the oxidative addition of acyl radical to electron deficient alkenes under molecular oxygen. The reactions of aliphatic aldehydes have been explored with methyl acrylate at ambient conditions (Scheme 11).

Scheme 11

3.5.6.7 Kinetic Resolution

Chiral cobalt(III) salen complexes have been studied for the kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides with nucleophiles such as water and phenols with excellent enantioselectivity. 1,2-Epoxibutane with phenol gives α -aryloxy alcohol in 98% ee (Scheme 12).

Scheme 12