Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Kinetic Resolution of Alcohols with an Achiral Exogenous Base

Substitution of exogenous (−)-sparteine for a
more practical achiral base in the aerobic oxidative kinetic
resolution of secondary alcohols is described. Carbonate
bases are the most effective of those screened and allow for
effective kinetic resolution of benzylic, allylic, and aliphatic
substrates. The procedure was also successfully extended
to the oxidative desymmetrization of meso diols.