Highly efficient and solvent-free direct aldol reaction catalyzed by glucosamine-derived prolinamide

The catalytic activity of novel sugar-based prolinamides in the aldol reaction between ketones and aryl aldehydes has been examined. The prolinamide 1c was found to be an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric aldol reaction under solvent-free conditions. A variety of ketones and aldehydes were used as substrates and the corresponding aldol products were obtained in excellent chemical yields with high levels of anti diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivity (up to >99%).