μ-Oxo-Dinuclear-Iron(III)-Catalyzed O-Selective Acylation of Aliphatic and Aromatic Amino Alcohols and Transesterification of Tertiary Alcohols.

A highly chemoselective and reactive μ-oxo-dinuclear iron(III) salen catalyst for transesterification was developed. The developed iron complex catalyzed acylation of aliphatic amino alcohols with nearly perfect O-selectivity, even when using activated esters, for which chemoselectivity is more difficult to control. In addition, O-selective transesterification of aromatic amino alcohols was achieved for the first time. The high activity of the iron complex enabled the use of sterically congested tertiary alcohols, including unprecedented tert-butanol.