Mechanistic Insights in Cobalt-Salen Complexes in Oxa-6π Electrocyclizations
Abstract
The present work studies the role half-salen cobalt-complexes in the oxa-6π electrocyclizations of O’Donnell’s Schiff bases. Based on chemical modulations of the electronic nature of half-salen cobalt complexes catalyzing the oxa-6π electrocyclization of Schiff bases to benzoxazines, a series of mechanistic investigations, including reaction rate measurements, deuterium-labeling studies, and linear-free energy relationships, reveal a fine-tuned mechanism consisting of three fundamental chemical steps. These chemical steps resembles the operating mechanism in the galactose oxidase enzyme.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
Chemical Reaction Mechanisms
Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Organometallics
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 397–401
- Publication date
- 10 February 2026
- Language
- EN