The First Catalytic, Diastereoselective, and Enantioselective Crossed-Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes

Abstract

The most basic of aldol constructions, namely the controlled stereoselective self-condensation of aldehydes, has finally found a general solution. Geometrically defined trichlorosilyl enolates of aldehydes display excellent reactivity, near perfect diastereoselectivity, and good (albeit variable) enantioselectivity in their addition to a wide range of aldehydes under catalysis by a chiral bisphosphoramide (see scheme).