Asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with aldehydes using a polymer-supported chiral Lewis acid catalyst

Highly Enantioselective Direct Aldol Reaction Catalyzed by Organic Molecules

We have demonstrated that a new class of l-proline-based organic compounds catalyzed the direct aldol reaction between aldehydes and acetone to provide beta-hydroxy ketones in good yields. The reaction is efficient, and 5-10 mol % of the catalyst and excellent enantioselectivities (97-99% ee) were obtained in both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. The presence of a gem-diphenyl group at the beta-carbon is necessary for high enantioselectivity.

alpha-Substituted acylsilanes via a highly selective [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement of alpha-benzyloxyallylsilane

alpha-Benzyloxyallylsilane undergoes efficient [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement to generate an enolate intermediate that can be trapped with various electrophiles, thereby providing a new synthetic approach to substituted acylsilanes.

Polystyrene-supportedN-sulfonylated amino alcohols and their applications to titanium(IV) complexes catalyzed enantioselective diethylzinc additions to aldehydes

Crosslinked polystyrene-supported resins 4, 7a, and 7b containing N-sulfonylated beta-amino alcohol in 98, 20, and 40% loadings are prepared. Asymmetric diethylzinc additions to benzaldehyde employing titanium complexes of 10 mol % resins 4, 7a, or 7b are examined and the best performed 7a/Ti(O-i-Pr)4 catalytic system applies to various aldehydes to afford desired secondary alcohols in excellent enantioselectivities up to 95% ee. The resin 7a is reused five times, giving the product with enantioselectivities >or=86% ee and an 81% ee is obtained when the resin is used the sixth time. The used resin 7a is refreshed with 1 M HCl and the asymmetric reaction employing the regenerated resin 7a gives the product in 88% ee.