| Abstract: | Enantiomer-differentiating ester syntheses from acid salts, chlorides, and an anhydride were studied in the presence of optically active polyamines. Enantiomer selection occurred in reactions of a racemic salt with an achiral alkyl bromide and vice versa, which is good evidence of the importance of activation of the carboxylate group by complexation of the counterion and activation of alkyl bromide by the formation of a quaternary salt with polyamine under solid–liquid, phase-transfer reaction conditions. Only small optical activity was observed in the products of acid anhydride or chloride with alcohol. |
