The authors thank Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bayer Pharma AG, Chemtura Organometallics GmbH Bergkamen, Bayer Services GmbH, BASF AG, and Sasol GmbH for financial support.

1. Preparation of Titanium(IV) tert-butoxide/Triethylchlorosilane Solution
<ol>
	<li>Dissolve 400 mg (400 &#956;l) titanium(IV) tert-butoxide (1&#160;mmol) in 10&#160;ml&#160;of dry dichloromethane. Add 150 mg (170 &#956;l) triethylchlorosilane (1&#160;mmol) to this solution at RT. 1&#160;ml&#160;of this dichloromethane-solution contains 0.1 mmol titanium(IV) tert-butoxide and 0.1 mmol triethylchlorosilane.</li>
</ol>
2. Pinacol-reaction of Tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol (1)...

<ol>
	<li>Hirao, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Catalytic+reductive+coupling+of+carbonyl+compounds+-+The+pinacol+coupling+reaction+and.">Catalytic reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds - The pinacol coupling reaction and.</a> 279, 53-75 (2007).</li><li>Chatterjee, A., Joshi, N. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolution+of+the+stereoselective+pinacol+coupling+reaction.">Evolution of the stereoselective pinacol coupling reaction.</a> Tetrahedron. 62, 12137-12158 (2006).</li><li>Ladipo, F. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Low-valent+titanium-mediated+reductive+coupling+of+carbonyl+compounds.">Low-valent titanium-mediated reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds.</a> Curr. Org. Chem. 10, 965-980 (2006).</li><li>Gans&#228;uer, A., Bluhm, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reagent-controlled+transition-metal-catalyzed+radical+reactions.">Reagent-controlled transition-metal-catalyzed radical reactions.</a> Chem. Rev. 100, 2771-2788 (2000).</li><li>Duan, X. -. F., Feng, J. X., Zi, G. -. F., Zhang, Z. -. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Convenient+synthesis+of+unsymmetrical+pinacols+by+coupling+of+structurally+similar+aromatic+aldehydes+mediated+by+low-valent+titanium.">A Convenient synthesis of unsymmetrical pinacols by coupling of structurally similar aromatic aldehydes mediated by low-valent titanium.</a> Synthesis. , 277-282 (2009).</li><li>Paquette, L. A., Lai, K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pinacol+macrocyclization-based+route+to+the+polyfused+medium-sized+CDE+ring+system+of+lancifodilactone.">Pinacol macrocyclization-based route to the polyfused medium-sized CDE ring system of lancifodilactone.</a> G. Org. Lett. 10, 3781-3784 (2008).</li><li>Maekawa, H., Yamamoto, Y., Shimada, H., Yonemura, K., Nishiguchi, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mg-+promoted+mixed+pinacol+coupling.">Mg- promoted mixed pinacol coupling.</a> Tetrahedron Lett. 45, 3869-3872 (2004).</li><li>Kang, M., Park, J., Pedersen, S. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pinacol+cross+coupling+reactions+of+ethyl+2-alkyl-2-formylpropionates.+stereoselective+synthesis+of+2,2,4-+trialkyl-3-hydroxy-&#947;-butyrolactones.">Pinacol cross coupling reactions of ethyl 2-alkyl-2-formylpropionates. stereoselective synthesis of 2,2,4- trialkyl-3-hydroxy-&#947;-butyrolactones.</a> Syn. Lett. , 41-43 (1997).</li><li>Askham, F. R., Carroll, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anionic+zirconaoxiranes+as+nucleophilic+aldehyde+equivalents.+application+to+intermolecular+pinacol+cross+coupling.">Anionic zirconaoxiranes as nucleophilic aldehyde equivalents. application to intermolecular pinacol cross coupling.</a> J. Org. Chem. 58, 7328-7329 (1993).</li><li>Hou, Z., Takamine, K., Aoki, O., Shiraishi, H., Fujiwara, Y., Taniguchi, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nucleophilic+Addition+of+lanthanoid+metal+umpoled+diaryl+ketones+to+electrophiles.">Nucleophilic Addition of lanthanoid metal umpoled diaryl ketones to electrophiles.</a> J. Org. Chem. 53, 6077-6084 (1988).</li><li>Groth, U., Jung, M., Vogel, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intramolecular+chromium(II)-catalyzed+pinacol+cross+coupling+of+2-Mmethylene-&#945;,&#969;-dicarbonyls.">Intramolecular chromium(II)-catalyzed pinacol cross coupling of 2-Mmethylene-&#945;,&#969;-dicarbonyls.</a> Syn. Lett. , 1054-1058 (2004).</li><li>Appendino, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthesis+of+Modified+Ingenol+Esters.">Synthesis of Modified Ingenol Esters.</a> Eur. J. Org. Chem. , 3413-3420 (1999).</li><li>Spaccini, R., Pastori, N., Clerici, A., Punta, C., Porta, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Key+role+of+Ti(IV)+in+the+selective+radical-radical+cross-coupling+mediated+by+the+Ingold-Fischer+effect.">Key role of Ti(IV) in the selective radical-radical cross-coupling mediated by the Ingold-Fischer effect.</a> J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 18018-18024 (2008).</li><li>Leonard, J., Lyfo, B., Procter, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Advanced Practical Organic Chemistry. , (2013).</li><li>Scheffler, U., Stoesser, R., Mahrwald, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retropinacol+/+cross-pinacol+coupling+reactions+-+a+catalytic+access+to+1,2-unsymmetrical+diols.">Retropinacol / cross-pinacol coupling reactions - a catalytic access to 1,2-unsymmetrical diols.</a> Adv. Synth. Cat. 354, 2648-2652 (2012).</li></ol>

An overall decrease in reaction times and higher yields is observed by deployment of electron-rich carbonyl compounds (compare entry 3 with 17, Table 1 or entry 19 with 13, Table 2). In addition, in reactions of ketones with bulky substituents a decrease in yields is observed under comparable conditions (compare entry 12 with 11, Table 2).

Although a wide range of carbonyl compounds can be applied in this novel pro...

The pinacol coupling reaction is a general and commonly used method for the preparation of symmetrically vicinal diols (1,2-diols, pinacols). For comprehensive reviews in this field see references Hirao1, Chatterjee and&#160;Joshi2, Ladipo3,&#160;and Gans&#228;uer and&#160;Bluhm4. In contrast to that, only a few reports were published to refer an efficient realization of cross-pinacol coupling reactions to yield the corresponding unsymmetrical 1,2-diols (titanium(IV) chloride/manganese5, samarium(II) iodide6, magnesium/trimethylchlorosilane7, vanadium(II)8, zirconium/tin9,&#160;and ytterbium10). Thus, the intermolecular cross-pinacol coupling reaction still remains a big challenge in organic chemistry, especially the catalytic execution of this transformation.
The formation of cross coupling products is kinetically disfavored under conditions of a classical pinacol coupling. To obtain sufficient amounts of the unsymmetrical product delayed addition of one carbonyl compound is possible. There exist a few examples which are developing this concept, but they are based on several specific experimental manipulations and hence cannot be generalized. In addition, the required excess of one carbonyl compound in these transformations resulted in a laborious separation of a complex product mixture11.&#160;An alternative for this purpose is represented by the precomplexation of one reactant rendering equimolar amounts of an additional reagent necessary.
Various examples of a reversible pinacol reaction have been described12.&#160;These lead to the consideration that such conditions might be an optimal starting point for the selective synthesis of cross coupling products. Since a low-valent metal as well as a reactive radical species is formed simultaneously in situ, unsymmetrical diols could be formed exclusively in the presence of a suitable carbonyl reactant. To the best of our knowledge such a method has not been reported before (Porta et al. described a comparable pinacol cleavage and subsequent coupling by the additional deployment of stoichiometric amounts of AIBN (2,2&#8242;-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile) to generate the required radicals)13.
Herein a protocol is visualized which provides a rapid and operationally simple access to unsymmetrical 1,2-diols. The unsymmetrical pinacol products are mostly accessible in excellent yields (&#62;95%). Undesired symmetrically pinacol products are not observed. This new cross-pinacol methodology is based upon a retropinacol/cross-pinacol coupling sequence. It will be demonstrated in the following by representative reactions of benzopinacole (1,1,2,2-tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol, 1) with 2-ethylbutyraldehyde (in the aldehyde series) and with diethylketone (in the ketone series).

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:363px;">1.2-Dichloromethane</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">319929</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Titanium(IV)tert-butoxide</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>200014-852</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-Ethylbutyraldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>110094</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Benzopinacol</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>B9807</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Triethylchlorosilane</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>&#160;235067</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">hexane, certified ACS</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>H29220</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">acetone, certified ACS</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>42324</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ammonium chloride</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>19997</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium hydrogen carbonate</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>12336</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Magnesium sulphate</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>41348</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">silica gel 60 F254 TLC plates</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>1,057,140,001</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">&#160;silica gel, 0.035-0.070 for flash-chromatography</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>240360300</td>
			<td style="width:79px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

retropinacol/cross-pinacol coupling reactions - a catalytic access to 1,2-unsymmetrical diols

Unsymmetrical 1,2-diols are hardly accessible by reductive pinacol coupling processes. A successful execution of such a transformation is bound to a clear recognition and strict differentiation of two similar carbonyl compounds (aldehydes &#8594; secondary 1,2-diols or ketones &#8594; tertiary 1,2-diols). This fine-tuning is still a challenge and an unsolved problem for an organic chemist. There exist several reports on successful execution of this transformation but they cannot be generalized. Herein we describe a catalytic direct pinacol coupling process which proceeds via a retropinacol/cross-pinacol coupling sequence. Thus, unsymmetrical substituted 1,2-diols can be accessed with almost quantitative yields by means of an&#160;operationally simple performance under very mild conditions. Artificial techniques, such as syringe-pump techniques or delayed additions of reactants are not necessary. The procedure we describe provides a very rapid access to cross-pinacol products (1,2-diols, vicinal diols). A further extension of this new process, e.g. an enantioselective performance could provide a very useful tool for the synthesis of unsymmetrical chiral 1,2-diols.

In reactions of tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol 1 and acetone in the presence of catalytic amounts of titanium(IV)-alkoxides we observed the formation of 1,1-diphenyl-1,2-diol 4a and at the same time the formation of benzophenone 3 (Scheme 1). The corresponding symmetrical 1,2-diol formed by a competitive pinacol coupling of acetone was not detected. However, to obtain quantitative conversions extremely long and unacceptable reaction times were required under...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Retropinacol/Cross-pinacol Coupling Reactions - A Catalytic Access to 1,2-Unsymmetrical Diols at JoVE.com

Retropinacol/Cross-pinacol Coupling Reactions - A Catalytic Access to 1,2-Unsymmetrical Diols

A novel account for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,2-diols based on a retropinacol/cross-pinacol coupling mechanism is described. Due to the catalytic execution of this reaction a considerable improvement compared to conventional cross-pinacol couplings is achieved.

Unsymmetrical 1,2-diols are hardly accessible by reductive pinacol coupling processes. A successful execution of such a transformation is bound to a clear ...

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12.8K Views.  Humboldt University of Berlin. A novel account for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,2-diols based on a retropinacol/cross-pinacol coupling mechanism is described. Due to the catalytic execution of this reaction a considerable improvement compared to conventional cross-pinacol couplings is achieved.