The mechanism of a highly chemoselective phenol cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by a Cr-salen catalyst was investigated. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the rate-determining step of the process was the oxidation of Cr(III) to the active Cr(V) catalyst. Additional work was done to show that the selectivity-determining step was the carbon-carbon bond forming process, with the cross-coupling being the lowest energy pathway. The understanding of the mechanism allowed for the development of a general analysis to predict the selectivity of the process.

Mechanism of a chromium-salen catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of phenols

2019 Fall National Meeting

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