title: Organocatalytic direct asymmetric aldol reactions in water.
abstract: We have developed direct asymmetric cross-aldol reactions that can be performed in water without addition of organic solvents. A bifunctional catalyst with a long hydrophobic alkyl chain efficiently catalyzed the reactions and afforded the desired aldol products in excellent yield with high enantiomeric excess, even when only an equal molar ratio of the donor and acceptor was used. These results reveal an effective design strategy for the development of aqueous organocatalytic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoda
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takabe
authors.forename: Fujie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Barbas