METHOD FOR THE ASYMMETRIC DIHYDROXYLATION OF OLEFINS, USING OSMIUM CATALYSTS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for the asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins, using osmium catalysts for producing monofunctional, bifunctional and/or polyfunctional chiral 1,2 diols of formula (I): R1R2C(OH)-C(OH)R3R4. According to the inventive method, olefins are reacted with molecular oxygen in the presence of an osmium compound and a chiral amine ligand in water, or in a solvent mixture which contains water, at a pH value of between 7.5 and 13. The chiral diols are used as intermediate products for agrochemicals, cosmetics and chiral polymers. The method can be carried out simply and with a high degree of selectivity and is advantageous from an economical and ecological standpoint.