Synthesis of a bipyridine-derived achiral thiourea trifluoromethanesulfonic acid salt and its application as an additive in organocatalytic asymmetric reactions

The host–guest complex of a proline–thiourea bipyridine trifluoromethanesulfonic acid salt can catalyze organocatalytic asymmetric reactions such as aldol, Michael, and Mannich in polar protic medium with high stereoselectivities. The privileged bipyridine backbone and the thiourea motif are essential to the activity and enantioselectivity through hydrogen bonding interactions.