Regio- and Diastereoselective Aldol Products through Three-Component Coupling Reactions of Difluoroboroxy Fischer Carbene Molybdenum Complexes

The reaction of difluoroboroxy Fischer carbene complexes , vinyl ketones, and aldehydes leads to the regioselective formation of aldol-like products (see reaction scheme). The reaction also shows a high degree of diastereofacial selectivity when chiral aldehydes are used. These results show that this is a very attractive process since the regioselective formation of aldols from nearly symmetrical ketones still remains an unsolved problem.