Theoretical study of the imidazolidinone catalyzed 1,4-addition of N,N-dimethyl-3-anisidine with α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehyde

Friedel–Crasfts alkylation reactions of α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehydes with N,N-dimethyl-3-anisidine catalyzed by a (2S,5S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one HCl salt have been carried out at the PCM(CH₂Cl₂)/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Three reaction processes have been characterized: (I) the formation of an iminium ion intermediate; (II) the 1,4-iminium addition of the iminium ion; and (III) the hydrolysis of the addition product. Moreover, Path 1-1 is the favorable channel in the formation of the iminium ion. From the point of view of energy, the enantioselectivity is controlled by the carbon–carbon bond formation step that is involved in both the intermediate M4 and the transition state TS4. The highest energy barrier of the reaction is the H2 proton transfer from the O10 atom of a water molecule to the N1 atom of the catalyst in the hydrolysis process, which is 23.4 kcal/mol. The presented calculated results may be helpful in understanding the experimental product distribution for the title reaction, and provide a general model to help explain the mechanisms of similar reactions.