Chiral salen catalyst and methods for the preparation of chiral compounds from racemic epoxides by using new catalyst

A chiral salen catalyst represented by formula 1,

• wherein R1, R2, R′1, R′2, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, Y1 and Y2 are independently H, C1-C6 alkyl group, C2-C6 alkenyl group, C2-C6 alkynyl group, C1-C6 alkoxy group, halogen atom, hydroxy group, amino group, thiol group, nitro group, amine group, imine group, amide group, carbonyl group, carboxy group, silyl group, ether group, thio ether group, seleno ether group, ketone group, aldehyde group, ester group, phosphoryl group, phosphonate group, phosphine group, sulfonyl group or (CH2)k-R4, wherein, R4 is phenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycle or polycycle, and k is an integer of 0 to 8, or any two or more neighboring R1, R2, R′1, R′2, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, Y1 and Y2 form a ring of a carbocycle or heterocycle comprising 4 to 10 atoms;
• R3 is a direct bond, —CH2—, —CH2CH2—, —NH—, —O—, or —S—;
• M is a metal atom selected from Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo and Ni;
• L is B or Al, preferably B;
• Q is a halogen atom chosen from F, Cl, Br, and I, preferably F or Cl, and most preferably F;
• and
• n is an integer of 0 to 4.