Camphor-10-sulfonamide-based prolinamide organocatalyst for the direct intermolecular aldol reaction between ketones and aromatic aldehydes

Prolinamides derived from l-proline and N,N-dialkyl 2-aminocamphor-10-sufonamides have been synthesized and used as organocatalysts in the direct intermolecular aldol reaction. Reactions of several aromatic aldehydes with cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 4-oxa and 4-sulfa-cyclohexanones and acetone are investigated employing 1a as an organocatalyst. Very high to excellent selectivities are obtained in these direct aldol reactions.