A recyclable dendritic osmium catalyst for homogeneous dihydroxylation of olefins

A series of osmate (OsO₄²⁻) core dendrimers was prepared by an ion-exchange technique through the mixing of K₂OsO₄ and a bis(quaternary ammonium bromide) core dendrimer, which consisted of poly(benzyl ether) dendron. By employing an osmate core dendrimer as a homogeneous catalyst, dihydroxylation reactions of olefins proceeded rapidly, and the dendritic osmium catalyst was recovered by reprecipitation and then reused. Furthermore, a dendritic effect on the recyclability of a catalyst was observed. In the case of asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions, the corresponding diol was obtained in a high chemical yield with a fair enantiomeric excess (ee). In this case, not only the dendritic osmium catalyst but also the chiral ligand could be recovered by reprecipitation and reused efficiently up to five times.