Asymmetric Glyoxylate-Ene Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Pd(II) Complexes in the Ionic Liquid [bmim][PF6]

The room temperature ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] was employed as the reaction medium in the asymmetric glyoxylate-ene reaction of α-methyl styrene (4a) with ethyl glyoxylate using chiral palladium(II) complexes as the catalysts. [Pd(S-BINAP)(3,5-CF3PhCN)2](SbF6)2 (1b) showed the highest catalytic activity. Under the reaction conditions of 40 C, 0.5 h, and 1b/4a molar ratio of 0.05, ethyl α-hydroxy-4-phenyl-4-pentenoate was obtained in excellent chemical yield (94 %) with high enantioselectivity (70 %). Other α-hydroxy esters can also be obtained in high chemical yields and enantioselectities through the glyoxylate-ene reactions of alkenes with glyoxylates catalyzed by 1b in [bmim][PF6]. Moreover, the ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] which contained the palladium(II) complex could be recycled and reused several times without significant loss of the catalytic activity.