Enamine versus Oxazolidinone: What Controls Stereoselectivity in Proline‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Aldol Reactions?

Abstract

Take the right path: Comparison of the oxazolidinone and enamine pathways in enantioselective aldol reactions by using density functional and ab initio transition states reveals that the oxazolidinone route does not provide the correct stereochemical outcome (see picture), whereas the enamine pathway predicts the correct stereoselectivity.