Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of Formaldehyde Catalyzed by Diarylprolinol

Abstract

Abstract The asymmetric cross-aldol reaction of formaldehyde with aldehyde pronucleophiles, catalyzed by trifluoromethyl-substituted diarylprolinol 1, was accomplished to directly afford α-hydroxymethyl-substituted aldehydes in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity.