Stereochemistry of epoxide carbonylation using bimetallic Lewis acid/metal carbonyl complexes

Abstract

The stereochemistry of epoxide carbonylation using bimetallic [Lewis acid]+[Co(CO)4]- complexes is reported. The achiral complex [(salph)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4] stereospecifically carbonylates cis- and trans-2-butene oxide to the trans- and cis-β-lactones, respectively. Preliminary experiments regarding the carbonylative kinetic resolution of racemic trans-2-butene oxide using the enantiomerically pure complex [(R,R-salcy)Al(THF)2][Co(CO) 4] are also reported.