Prolinamides derived from aminophenols as organocatalysts for asymmetric direct aldol reactions

N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-prolinamides were synthesized with the aim to introduce an additional hydrogen bonding site to the prolinamide structure. These compounds were evaluated as organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions between aromatic aldehydes and cyclohexanone. Very good yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities were achieved in both organic solvents and water. The importance of the additional hydrogen bonding site was confirmed by comparative experiments with prolinamide derivatives without the hydroxyl group.     

Direct asymmetric aldol reactions of acetone using bimetallic zinc catalysts

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective aldol reaction using a novel binuclear zinc catalyst of acetone with several aldehydes gave products in good yields (62-89%) with a high level of enantioselectivity (ee = 76-92%).     

Class I fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases as catalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions

The activity of two commercially available bacterial class I fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases (FruA) towards a number of aldehydes has been compared with rabbit muscle aldolase (RAMA), which is the most widely used enzyme for aldol reactions with dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The kinetic properties of the three aldolases are very similar, but the bacterial aldolases were much more stable than RAMA. Reaction of butanal and dihydroxyacetone phosphate catalyzed by FruA from Staphylococcus carnosus was performed on a 5 mmol scale in 53% isolated yield. Enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity of the major reaction product [90% (3S,4R)] was determined by chiral gas chromatography.     

Novel Cinchona alkaloid derived ammonium salts as catalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-hydroxy alpha-amino acids via aldol reactions

Using the cinchonidine-derived phase-transfer catalyst developed by Park and Jew as a lead structure, we have prepared novel chiral ammonium salts and investigated their efficacy for the preparation of β-hydroxy α-amino acids via asymmetric aldol reactions. The modifications were performed at C3 of the cinchonidine nucleus and include dimers as well as catalysts possessing electron-deficient alkyne and alkene moieties. Some of the new catalysts yielded improvements relative to the Park-Jew catalyst in the aldol reaction.     

Organocatalytic direct asymmetric aldol reactions in water

We have developed direct asymmetric cross-aldol reactions that can be performed in water without addition of organic solvents. A bifunctional catalyst with a long hydrophobic alkyl chain efficiently catalyzed the reactions and afforded the desired aldol products in excellent yield with high enantiomeric excess, even when only an equal molar ratio of the donor and acceptor was used. These results reveal an effective design strategy for the development of aqueous organocatalytic systems.     

Highly efficient and reusable dendritic catalysts derived from N-prolylsulfonamide for the asymmetric direct aldol reaction in water

The direct aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral dendritic catalysts derived from N-prolylsulfonamide gave the corresponding products in high isolated yields (up to 99%) with excellent anti diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) in water. In addition, catalyst 1e may be recovered by precipitation and filtration and reused for at least five times without loss of catalytic activity.     

Inorganic ammonium salts as catalysts for direct aldol reactions in the presence of water

Inorganic ammonium salts catalyze the direct aldol reaction between unmodified ketones and aldehydes to furnish the corresponding β-hydroxy ketones in aqueous media. The reactions are highly chemoselective and operationally simple.     

N-Prolinylanthranilamide pseudopeptides as bifunctional organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions

Proline anthranilamide-based pseudopeptides were shown to be effective organocatalysts for enantioselective direct aldol reactions of a selection of aldehydes with various ketones with excellent yield, enantioselectivity up to 99% and anti to syn diastereoselectivity up to 25:1.     

New and effective proline-based catalysts for asymmetric aldol reaction in water

New proline diamide organocatalysts with Pro-Phe peptide bonds were synthesized and their catalytic activities in asymmetric direct aldol reactions of aliphatic ketones with aromatic aldehydes were investigated. Catalyst 6a showed good enantioselectivity at 0?°C in the presence of p-nitrobenzoic acid as cocatalyst in water.     

Chiral Phebox-rhodium complexes as catalysts for asymmetric direct aldol reaction

Chiral bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl-rhodium complexes act as catalysts in the combination of AgOTf for direct aldol reaction of ketones and aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding β-hydroxyketones in high anti-selectivity and a good to high enantioselectivity up to 91% ee.     

Increased structural complexity leads to higher activity: peptides as efficient and versatile catalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions

[reaction: see text] Peptides containing a secondary amine and a carboxylic acid in a specific orientation to each other are presented as highly efficient catalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions: (1) their activity is considerably higher compared to that of proline, and (2) the enantioselectivity of the peptidic catalysts can be changed from (R)- to (S)-selectivity by simple modifications of the secondary structure.     

Dipeptide-catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reactions in the presence of water

The l-proline-based dipeptide has been discovered and developed as an efficient catalyst for the direct asymmetric aldol reactions of unmodified ketones with various aldehydes including aromatic, aliphatic, heteroaromatic, and unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of water at 0 °C. The resulted methodology and optimal conditions led to the corresponding aldol products with high yields (up to 94%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

New simple and recyclable O-acylation serine derivatives as highly enantioselective catalysts for the large-scale asymmetric direct aldol reactions in the presence of water

New classes of O-acylation serine derived organocatalysts have been synthesized one-step by rational combination of serine with acyl chlorides at room temperature in trifluoroacetic acid. No protecting groups or chromatographic techniques are involved in any of the procedures, and certain combined serine-surfactant organocatalysts mediate the direct aldol reactions of ketones with a series of aromatic aldehydes to provide the aldol products in high yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The catalyst 1b can be easily recovered and reused, and without significant decrease of enantioselectivity was observed for five cycles. This novel catalyst can be efficiently used in large-scale reactions with the enantioselectivities being maintained at the same level, which offers a great possibility for application in industry.     

Asymmetric glycolate aldol reactions using cinchonium phase-transfer catalysts

Cinchona phase-transfer catalysts (PTC) were developed for glycolate aldol reactions to give differentially protected 1,2-diol products. Silyl enol ether 9 reacted to generate benzhydryl-protected products. O-Allyl trifluorobenzyl cinchonium hydrofluoride CN-4 (20 mol %) catalyzed the addition of 9 to benzaldehyde to give 8 as a single syn-product in 76% yield and 80% ee. Recrystallization enriched the product to 95% ee, and a Baeyer-Villiger reaction transformed the product into useful ester intermediates. [reaction: see text]     

Organocatalysis with proline derivatives: improved catalysts for the asymmetric Mannich, nitro-Michael and aldol reactions

Tetrazole and acylsulfonamide organocatalysts derived from proline have been synthesised and applied to the asymmetric Mannich, nitro-Michael and aldol reactions to give results that are superior to the proline-catalysed counterpart.     

l-Proline catalysed asymmetric aldol reactions in PEG-400 as recyclable medium and transfer aldol reactions

l-Proline-catalysed direct asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with various aldehydes in PEG-400 is described. Recycling of the catalyst and solvent (PEG) was possible up to ten runs without loss of catalyst activity. l-Proline was also found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric transfer aldol reaction between various aldehydes and diacetone alcohol for the first time. Good yields and enantioselectivities were observed with both methods.     

Noncovalently supported heterogeneous chiral amine catalysts for asymmetric direct aldol and Michael addition reactions

A new strategy for the immobilization of asymmetric organocatalysts by combining polystyrene (PS)/sulfonic acids and chiral amines in situ through acid-base interactions is presented. The PS/sulfonic acids play a dual role as catalyst anchors and modulators for activity and stereoselectivity. Different types of polymeric sulfonic acids were examined and 1% divinylbenzene (DVB) cross-linked PS/sulfonic acid 1 e with a medium loading of sulfonic acid moieties was found to be the optimal support. Furthermore, the noncovalency of this system allows combinatorial screening of optimal catalysts for the targeted reactions. In this regard, highly efficient and enantioselective heterogeneous catalysts were identified for the asymmetric direct aldol and Michael addition reactions. The catalysts could be easily recovered by filtration and reused for six cycles with similar stereoselectivity but slightly decreased activity. Significantly, the deactivated catalysts could be regenerated following an acidic washing/amine recharging procedure.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric syn-selective direct aldol reactions in water

A practical and convenient organocatalytic strategy is developed to provide a direct route to syn-selective aldol products in the presence of water. The siloxy serine organocatalyst mediates the direct aldol reaction of TBSO-protected hydroxyacetone with a variety of aldehydes to provide the aldol products in good yields and enantioselectivities up to 92%.     

Alanine-supported protic ionic liquids as efficient catalysts for aldol condensation reactions

A series of novel protic ionic liquids were immobilized on alanine, a cheap readily available amino acid. These short aliphatic chain ionic liquids have a low cost of preparation, a low toxicity, and need simple synthesis/purification processes. Their catalytic activity was tested for citral–acetone and benzaldehyde–acetone condensations, two reactions with an interest for pharmacological as well as flavor and fragrance industry. Good results were obtained in terms of conversion and selectivity; moreover, the catalysts can be recycled and reused for several consecutive cycles without significant loss of activity.     

Direct asymmetric aldol reactions in brine using novel sulfonamide catalyst

Direct asymmetric aldol reactions of aldehydes with ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of sulfonamide 4 and trifluoroacetic acid afforded the corresponding anti-aldol products in moderate to excellent yields with 85-93% ee.