title: Cu(I)-catalyzed direct enantioselective cross aldol-type reaction of acetonitrile.
abstract: Direct catalytic enantioselective cross aldol-type reaction of an acetate surrogate was developed using Cu alkoxide-chiral phosphine complexes as catalysts. Chemoselective activation and deprotonation of the donor substrate (acetonitrile) by the soft metal alkoxide in a strongly donating solvent (HMPA) are key to success in this reaction. Useful chemical yields and promising enantioselectivities are produced using either DTBM-SEGPHOS or a tuned BIPHEP as a chiral ligand. [reaction: see text]
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suto
authors.forename: Riichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Motomu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.forename: Masakatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki