Chemistry Letters, Vol.39, No.5, 500-501, 2010
A Novel Application of [Cr(en)(2)](2+) in the Synthesis of 1,2-Diols from Aromatic Aldehydes
A reductive pinacol type arylaldehyde homocoupling process mediated by the [Cr(en)(2)](2+) complex is described. This procedure affords the meso-stereoisomer as the major product, an unexpected result considering that most organometallic methodologies preferentially yield the dl-isomer. Additionally, the method represents a novel application of the [Cr(en)(2)](2+).