OMS-2 for aerobic, catalytic, one-pot alcohol oxidation-wittig reactions: efficient access to α,β-unsaturated esters

Abstract

Manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) materials with well-defined pores have been extensively studied over two decades due to their intriguing chemical and physical properties. OMS-2, the synthetic cryptomelane form of manganese oxide, was synthesized by a modified reflux method and was found to be highly active for obtaining α,β-unsaturated esters (up to 95 % yield and with high diastereoselectivities) from a variety of benzyl, heteroaryl, allyl and alkyl alcohols via one-pot alcohol oxidation-Wittig reaction. The transformation utilizes air as the stoichiometric oxidant, and the inexpensive catalyst can be recovered and reused.