A Dinuclear Palladium Catalyst for α-Hydroxylation of Carbonyls with O₂

Abstract

A chemo- and regioselective α-hydroxylation reaction of carbonyl compounds with molecular oxygen as oxidant is reported. The hydroxylation reaction is catalyzed by a dinuclear Pd(II) complex, which functions as an oxygen transfer catalyst, reminiscent of an oxygenase. The development of this oxidation reaction was inspired by discovery and mechanism evaluation of previously unknown Pd(III)−Pd(III) complexes