Water → (R)-2-phenyl-1,2-propanediol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A divided glass H-cell, as described in example 6.1 but smaller in size (50 ml in anode and cathode compartment), is charged in the cathode with 40 mL, 5% H3Po4 solution and in the anode with K2CO3 (4.1 g, 30 mmol), H2O (25 mL), t-BuOH (25 mL), chiral ligand, PHAL-DHQD (390 mg, 0.5 mmol), OsO4 (0.196 M in toluene, 2.6 mL, 0.5 mmol) and finally α-methylstyrene (1.2 g, 10 mmol). The mixture is electrolyzed at 20° C. and 0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl) working potential using platinum foils as the anode and cathode. After ca. 2000 coulombs of electricity is consumed, the reaction is worked up as Example 6.7 to give (R)-2-phenyl-1.2-propanediol in good yield.

Provenance & Evidence