| Abstract |
The catalytic activity of the water-soluble scorpionate coordination compounds [Cu(kappa-NN O-Tpms)(2)] (1), [Mn(Tpms)(2)] (2) and Li[FeCl2(kappa-NN N -Tpms)] (3) [Tpms = tris(pyrazolyl)-methane sulfonate, O3SC(pz)(3)(-)], were studied towards the (Henry) reaction between benzaldehyde and nitromethane or nitroethane in aqueous medium to afford, respectively, 2-nitro-1-phenylethanol or 2-nitro-1-phenylpropanol, the latter in the syn and the anti diastereoisomeric forms. Complex 1 exhibited the highest activity under the optimum experimental conditions and was used to broaden the scope of the reaction to include several aromatic aldehydes achieving yields up to 94\%. |
