An effective dual copper-and sulfide-catalytic system for the epoxidation of aldehydes with phenyldiazomethane

Epoxides have been obtained from alde-hydes and phenyldiazomethane using catalytic amounts of both the copper homoscorpionate com-plexes Tp xCuL (Tpx = homoscorpionate ligand; L = acetonitrile or tetrahydrofuran, THF) and dimethyl sulfide (SMe2) in high yields and diasteroselectivities, and with activities higher (TOF = 46 h-1) than those already known with rhodium-or copper-based cata-lysts. Among the copper(I) homoscorpionate com-plexes tested, TpBr3Cu(NCCH 3) showed the highest catalytic activity under mild conditions. The catalytic activity is controlled by electronic effects induced by the Tp x ligand as well as by the stability of the TpxCu(SR 2) adducts. Indeed, in the case of TpMs as ligand, the TpMsCu(THT) (THT = tetrahydrothio-phene) and Tp MsCu(SMe2) species could be isolated as very stable crystalline solids, the molecular struc-ture of the former being confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The in situ generation of PhCHN 2 from benzaldehyde tosylhydrazone sodium salt at 60 °C in methyl tert-butyl ether as solvent and TpMsCu(THF) as the catalyst also showed high cata-lytic activities, improving those already reported with copper-based catalysts. © 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH&Co. KGaA, Weinheim.Peer Reviewe