Chiral catalyst, process for preparing the same and its use in the oxidate coupling of naphthols

摘要

The compound of this invention is a useful catalyst for the oxidative coupling of naphthol. Its originality lies in that it is a novel vanadium complex of Schiff's base formed by a chiral amino acid and a formyl biphenol or its derivative. Its axis chirality is induced to form by the chiral amino acid. It has the general formula: where R represents a benzyl, an isopropyl, an isobutyl or a tertiary butyl and the configuration of the amino acid is R or S. The compound can catalyze oxidative coupling of naphthol or its derivative to form binaphthol or its derivatives with a high optical purity.