Dynamic Thermodynamic Resolution of Racemic 1,1-Binaphthyl-2,2-diol (BINOL)

A dynamic thermodynamic resolution method for converting (R/S)-BINOL (1,1 '-binaphthyl-2,2 '-diol) into (R)-BINOL in 100% theoretical yield is reported. This technique involves mixing (R/S)-BINOL with N-benzyl cinchonidinium bromide (1 equiv) and a [Cu-2(tmeda)(2)(mu-OH)(2)]Br-2 (2.5 mol %) redox catalyst in acetonitrile. In the background of this process is the observation that the energy for atropoisomerization decreases significantly when an electron is removed from BINOL. Therefore, it is possible to convert both enantiomers into the thermodynamically favorable [N-benzyl cinchonidinium bromide(R)-BINOL] adduct.