Organocatalytic direct asymmetric aldol reactions in water.
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.
Mase
Nobuyuki
N
Department of Molecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan.
Nakai
Yusuke
Y
Ohara
Naoko
N
Yoda
Hidemi
H
Takabe
Kunihiko
K
Tanaka
Fujie
F
Barbas
Carlos F
CF