Chiral Primary−Tertiary Diamine Catalysts Derived From Natural Amino Acids for<i>syn</i>-Aldol Reactions of Hydroxy Ketones

Abstract

A series of primary-tertiary diamine catalysts were designed and synthesized from primary natural amino acids. Application of these new chiral catalysts in direct aldol reactions of alpha-hydroxyketones showed very good catalytic activity (up to 97% yield) and high syn selectivity (up to syn/ anti = 30:1, 99% ee).