AD-mix explained

In organic chemistry, AD-mix is a commercially available mixture of reagents that acts as an asymmetric catalyst for various chemical reactions, including the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of alkenes. The two letters AD, stand for asymmetric dihydroxylation. The mix is available in two variations, "AD-mix α" and "AD-mix β" following ingredient lists published by Barry Sharpless.^[1]

The mixes contain:

• • Potassium osmate K₂OsO₂(OH)₄ as the source of Osmium tetroxide Potassium ferricyanide K₃Fe(CN)₆, which is the re-oxidant in the catalytic cycle
• Potassium carbonate
• A chiral ligand:
  • AD-mix α contains (DHQ)₂PHAL, the phthalazine adduct with dihydroquinine

• AD-mix β contains (DHQD)₂PHAL, the phthalazine adduct with dihydroquinidine

300px|DHQD2PHAL AD-mix

External links

• Catalytic Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of Alkenes at Imperial College London Link

Notes and References

1. Sharpless, K. B., et al. J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 2768-2771.