A series of chiral oxovanadium(IV) complexes derived from tridentate N-3,5-substituted-, N-3,4-benzo-and N-5,6-benzo-salicylidene-α-amino acids can serve as efficient catalysts for the enantioselective oxidative couplings of various 3-, 6-, and 7-substituted 2-naphthols under O2. The best scenario involves the use of a vanadyl complex arising from 2-hydroxy-l-naphthaldehyde and valine (or phenylalanine) in CCl4, leading to BINOLs in good yields (75-100%) and with enantioselectivities of up to 68%.……
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