OMS-2 nanorod-supported cobalt catalyst for aerobic dehydrocyclization of vicinal diols and amidines: Access to functionalized imidazolones

Abstract The development of reusable base metal catalysts for innovative catalytic transformations is a key technology toward sustainable production of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other function products. Herein, we report the preparation of a new highly dipersed manganese oxides of octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) nanorod-supported cobalt catalyst, which is successfully applied for aerobic dehydrocyclization of vicinal diols and amidines to access structurally diverse imidazolones, a class of valuable compounds found in numerous natural and biomedical products. The developed catalytic transformation proceeds with broad substrate scope, good functional group compability, the use of green molecular oxygen and reusable cobalt catalyst, which offers an important platform for the conversion of abundant and sustainable alcohol resources into functional N-heterocycles. The strategy combining nanocatalyst design with aerobic dehydrocoupling is anticipated to achieve other challenging catalytic transformations.