A novel photocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol derivatives by oxidative coupling of 3-substituted-2-naphthol with Δ-[Ru(menbpy) 3 ] 2+ [menbpy = 4,4′-di(1R,2S,5R)-(–)-menthoxycarbonyl-2,2′-bipyridine], which posseses molecular helicity

The asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [or (R)-(+)-1,1 ′-bi-3-methoxy-2-naphthol] from 2-naphthol (or 3-methoxy-2-naphthol) is performed photocatalytically by using the chiral ruthenium complex, M(C3)-Δ-[Ru(menbpy)3]2+[M(C3)= counterclockwise molecular helicity along the C3 axis, menbpy = 4,4′-di(1R,2S,5R)-(–)-menthoxycarbonyl-2,2′-bipyridine] as a photosensitizer and[Co(acac)3](acac–= acetylacetonato) as an oxidant.