Direct, pyrrolidine sulfonamide-promoted enantioselective aldol reactions of alpha, alpha-dialkyl-aldehydes: Synthesis of quaternary carbon-containing beta-hydroxy carbonyl compounds

ORGN 145

Hao Li, haoli@unm.edu, Jian Wang, and Wei Wang, wwang@unm.edu. Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico, MSC03 2060, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
A new procedure has been developed for direct, asymmetric aldol reactions of alpha,alpha-dialkyl aldehydes with aromatic aldehydes which produce quaternary carbon-containing beta-hydroxy carbonyl compounds. The processes, promoted by an organocatalyst (S) pyrrolidine sulfonamide, take place in high yields with exceptionally high levels of enantioselectivities.