Organocatalytic Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Formyl‐α‐hydroxyphosphonates

Abstract

The cross aldol reaction between enolizable aldehydes and α-ketophosphonates was achieved for the first time by using 9-amino-9-deoxy-epi-quinine as the catalyst. β-Formyl-α-hydroxyphosphonates were obtained in high to excellent enantioselectivities. The reaction works especially well with acetaldehyde, which is a tough substrate for organocatalyzed cross aldol reactions. The products were demonstrated to have anticancer activities.