Ionic liquid-supported proline as catalyst in direct asymmetric aldol reaction

Ionic-liquid-supported proline derivative was synthesized starting from L-proline and was used to catalyze direct asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with aldehydes. The yield and optical purity of the condensation products, the corresponding β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds were comparable with those obtained under homogeneous conditions. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused for at least four times. Published in Russian in Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 1834–1837. The text was submitted by the authors in English.