title: Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chiral phthalides by SmI2-mediated reductive cyclization of 2-acylarylcarboxylates.
abstract: A significant new and efficient catalytic asymmetric approach for the highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral phthalides by SmI2-induced reductive cyclization of 2-acylarylcarbonylates was developed. The combination of (4S,5R)-4,5-diphenyloxazolidin-2-one and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine was found to be a very effective catalyst system in the reaction. This method provides a ready access to a broad range of enantiomerically enriched phthalides (up to 99% ee).
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 354 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lin