Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of alcohols with an achiral exogenous base

Substitution of exogenous (-)-sparteine for a more practical achiral base in the aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols is described. Carbonate bases are the most effective of those screened and allow for effective kinetic resolution of benzylic, allylic, and aliphatic substrates. The procedure was also successfully extended to the oxidative desymmetrization of meso diols.