A synthesis of new bidentate pyridines 8a–d, 9, and 10 has been developed, starting from triflate 14, readily available from β-pinene 11. A copper complex of the pyridine–oxazoline ligands 8a has been found to catalyze asymmetric allylic oxidation of cyclic olefins 36a–c with good conversion rates and acceptable enantioselectivity (≤ 67% ee). The imidazolium salt 10 has been identified as a precursor of the corresponding N, N′-unsymmetrical N- ...
