Synthesis and Evaluation of Azolium-Based Halogen-Bond Donors

A method for the synthesis of iodinated imidazolium and triazolium N-heterocyclic halogen-bond-donor catalysts has been developed. This approach was applied to the synthesis of a variety of 1,2,4-triazolium salts to prepare a series of novel chiral halogen-bond-donor catalysts. The counterions of the iodinated triazoliums can be readily exchanged with chiral and achiral non-coordinating counterions to produce unique scaffolds. Their ability to promote/catalyse a conjugate addition reaction with indole was investigated. Through these initial studies, a set of general guidelines and considerations for the application of these halogen-bond donors in organocatalysis have been established.