[Ru(phgly)₂(binap)]/Li₂CO₃: A Highly Active, Robust, and Enantioselective Catalyst for the Cyanosilylation of Aldehydes

Abstract

The right combination: A series of aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes can be converted into the desired silylated cyanohydrins by reaction with (CH3)3SiCN and a catalyst system consisting of the combination of a chiral ruthenium complex and Li2CO3 (see scheme). The reaction is highly enantioselective and affords the R products with up to 98 % ee within 24 h at a substrate-to-catalyst ratio of 10 000:1. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2008/z801501_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.