Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reactions in water using a DNA-based catalyst.
Taking the plunge: The first example of a Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation with olefins in water is described. By using loadings of a DNA-based copper catalyst as low as 0.15 mol %, good yields and excellent enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles with heteroaromatic pi nucleophiles. dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine.
Boersma
Arnold J
AJ
Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Feringa
Ben L
BL
Roelfes
Gerard
G