Exploring “Through-Bond” Proximity between the Ion Tag and Reaction Site of an Imidazolium-Proline Catalyst for the Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

Proline-Histidine Dipeptide: A Suitable Template for Generating Ion-Tagged Organocatalysts for the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

Proline-histidine dipeptide laid the foundation for the construction of three new ion-tagged organocatalysts, utilising the imidazole moiety of histidine for generating the quaternary species. A brief comparative investigation of the catalysts in the enamine-mediated direct asymmetric aldol reaction brought out their contrasting features, particularly under aqueous conditions. The best among them was also utilised in preparing some derivatives and effecting a desymmetrisation.

A Simple and Efficient Protocol for Proline-Catalysed Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The proline-catalysed asymmetric aldol reaction is usually carried out in highly dipolar aprotic solvents (dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile) where proline presents an acceptable solubility. Protic solvents are generally characterized by poor stereocontrol (e.g., methanol) or poor reactivity (e.g., water). Here, we report that water/methanol mixtures are exceptionally simple and effective reaction media for the intermolecular organocatalytic aldol reaction using the simple proline as the catalyst.

Probing the Synergistic Catalytic Model: A Rationally Designed Urea-Tagged Proline Catalyst for the Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

A urea tag was incorporated at the C-4 position of proline, cis to its COOH group, in order to explore the prospect of a synergistic effect between the two functional groups in the transition state of the enamine route to the asymmetric aldol reaction. The catalyst proved to be an excellent performer, delivering aldols in high yields and with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities using just 2 mol % loading in the presence of water; it also exhibited good levels of recyclability under aqueous conditions. The favorable results reveal the interesting possibility of an intramolecular host-guest interaction between the urea and the amino acid moieties, exerting a beneficial effect on catalysis. The concept could certainly offer a new direction toward more efficient catalyst design.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-l-proline)-catalyzed Claisen–Schmidt and Knoevenagel condensations: unexpected enhanced catalytic activity of the polymer catalyst

The heterogeneous catalyst is more active than the homogeneous one! The abnormal phenomenon is probably caused by the polymer, which enriches the reactants around the reaction sites.