Photodynamic Resolution of Racemic Compounds having Axial Chirality

Enantioselective synthesis is important in modern synthetic chemistry, and can be an important step in the production of certain chemicals, such as food additives, fragrances, natural products, and pharmaceuticals.

One of the most utilized ligands/catalysts for enantioselective reactions is 1,1’-bi-2-napthol (“BINOL”).  The most common methods to synthesize BINOL and its derivatives, however, result in the formation of a racemic mixture of (R) and (S) isomers.  Due to the fact that only a single isomer of BINOL is required for enantioselective reactions, the racemic mixture typically is purified through chromatography or recrystallization to achieve the desired isomer, while the other isomer is discarded.

Dr Hanson has developed a methods of forming a product having an enantiomeric excess from BINOL, BINOL derivatives,  and other atropisomers, including the racemic mixtures thereof.