Enantioselective direct aldol reactions catalyzed by L-prolinamide derivatives.

ABSTRACT: l-Prolinamides 2, prepared from l-proline and simple aliphatic and aromatic amines, have been found to be active catalysts for the direct aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with neat acetone at room temperature. They give moderate enantioselectivities of up to 46% enantiomeric excess (ee). The enantioselectivity increases as the amide N-H becomes a better hydrogen bond donor. l-Prolinamides 3, derived from the reaction of l-proline with alpha,beta-hydroxyamines such that there is a terminal hydroxyl group, show more efficient catalysis and higher enantioselectivities. In particular, catalyst 3h, prepared from l-proline and (1S,2S)-diphenyl-2-aminoethanol, exhibits high enantioselectivities of up to 93% ee for aromatic aldehydes and up to >99% ee for aliphatic aldehydes under -25 degrees

SUBMITTER: Tang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC395980 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature