Catalytic behavior of wool‐osmium tetroxide complex for asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins

A new chiral polymer‐metal complex, wool‐osmium tetroxide (wool‐OsO₄) complex was prepared by a very simple method. This complex was found to be able to catalyze the asymmetric dihydroxylation of allylamine to (R)‐(+)‐3‐amino‐1, 2‐propanediol and allyl chloride to (S)‐(+)‐3‐chloro‐1,2‐propanediol. The optical yields amounted to 83.7 and 57.2%, and the product yields were 80.2 and 68.5% respectively. The experimental results showed that OsO₄ content in the complex, reaction time, allylamine/OsO₄ molar ratio and solvent all have an effect on the product and optical yields. Additionally, wool‐OsO₄ complex catalyst could be reused without any remarkable change in optical catalytic activity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.