Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Blockers via Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution of Terminal Oxiranes by Using Bimetallic Chiral {{2,2′‐[Cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]bis[phenolato]}(2−)}cobalt ([Co(salen)])‐Type Complexes

The synthesis of chirally pure β‐blockers was successfully achieved via hydrolytic kinetic resolution of butyl (±)‐4‐(oxiran‐2‐ylmethoxy)benzeneacetate ((±)‐1) and (±)‐4‐(oxiran‐2‐ylmethoxy)benzeneacetonitrile ((±)‐2) in the presence of bimetallic chiral [Co(salen)]‐type complexes. The newly synthesized bimetallic chiral [Co(salen)]‐type complexes exhibited excellent enantioselectivities of up to >98% ee in good yields (Tables 1–3).