Oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols in water with chiral PNNP/Ir catalyst

Using water as solvent, the oxidative kinetic resolution of a wide range of racemic secondary alcohols with a chiral PNNP/Ir catalyst was investigated. The catalytic reaction proceeded smoothly with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) under mild conditions, providing an environmentally benign process to achieve optically active alcohols.