An effective cis-β-octahedral Mn(iii) SALPN catalyst for the Mukaiyama-Isayama hydration of α,β-unsaturated esters.

Two cis-β-MnSALPN catalysts were synthesised and tested in the Mukaiyama-Isayama hydration of α,β-unsaturated esters. The MnEtOSALPN(acac) complex 7 is the most active and catalyses hydration with little or no detectable undesired alkene reduction. This catalyst is superior for alkene hydration compared to the originally reported Mn(dpm) catalyst.