Copper ion-induced activation and asymmetric benzoylation of 1,2-diols: kinetic chiral molecular recognition.

New catalytic ability of copper(II) ion has been exploited for monobenzoylation of 1,2-diols. The catalyst can be readily modified by ligation to acquire higher stereoselectivity. Highly effective kinetic resolution of dl-1,2-diols was achieved. The enantiodiscrimination process was clearly shown to be controlled by the kinetics of acylation of dl-1,2-diols. The catalytic method was successfully applied to asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-hydrobenzoin.