Kinetic resolution of axially chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-biaryls by palladium-catalyzed alcoholysis.

Palladium-diamine complexes catalyzed kinetic resolution of axially chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-biaryls by alcoholysis of vinyl ethers. The reaction proceeded with high selectivity for various kinds of biaryls. This process is applicable to not only binaphthols but also biphenols, which have been considered to be difficult for the enantioselective synthesis by known catalytic methods.