Abstract:The direct immobilization of two different C-5-propargyl ether-modified, chiral N-salicylidene vanadyl(V) tert-leucinates onto 4-azidomethylsubstituted polystyrene by click chemistry was examined. Among the eight different solvents investigated, the resulting polystyrene-supported catalysts promote the asymmetric, aerobic oxidation of a-hydroxy (thio)esters and amides with enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee (selectivity factor up to 41) in chloroform. These polystyrene-supported catalysts can be readily recovered by filtration and reused for at least four consecutive runs without discernible loss of reactivity and enantioselectivity.Keywords: click chemistry; direct immobilization; enantioselective aerobic oxidation; recyclable catalysts; vanadyl compounds Transition metal complex-catalyzed asymmetric aerobic oxidations [1] have recently emerged as highly efficient methods to obtain optically pure alcohols along with kinetic resolution, especially in cases where asymmetric reduction of ketones could not provide sufficiently high enantioselectivity. Significant progress in this area has been made with a variety of chiral metal catalysts.[2] In particular, enantiomerically pure a-hydroxy carboxylic acid and mandelic acid derivatives are ubiquitous building blocks in enantioselective synthesis and the synthesis of biologically active compounds such as semi-synthetic penicillin, cephalosporin, anti-thrombotic and anti-obesity agents.[3] With the extension of interest in new organic transformations by using vanadyl species, [4,5] we and Tostes group have developed highly enantioselective aerobic oxidations catalyzed by chiral N-salicylidene vanadyl(V) carboxylates [6] and alocholates, [7] respectively, for the preparation of optically enriched a-hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives. The oxidative kinetic resolution strategy has also shown its potential in the syntheses of biologically relevant a-hydroxy phosphonates, [8] a-hydroxy ketones [9] , enantioenriched cyclic ethers [10] and an antitumor agent -octalactin A.[11] Moreover, chiral vanadyl(V) complexes are also an effective catalysts in asymmetric sulfide oxidation [12] and oxidative coupling of 2-naphthols. [13] In addition, these complexes acts as a DNA photocleavage agent [14] and metal ion-specific (e.g., K + and Ag + ) transporters. [15] Although these homogenous transition metal complexes offer high levels of reactivity and enantioselectivity, their applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry remain somewhat limited due to their relatively high cost, difficulties in separation and contamination of metal complexes or metal salts either in waste or the end products. Consequently, their immobilization on solid supports has attracted enormous interest, as this allows for facile separation of the heterogeneous catalysts from products, enables efficient recovery and reuse of catalysts and minimizes pollution occurring from metal complexes.[16] Despite these options and numerous applications of chiral vanadium complexes, only a few approache...