Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Reactions in Water Using a DNA‐Based Catalyst

Abstract

Taking the plunge: The first example of a Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation with olefins in water is described. By using loadings of a DNA-based copper catalyst as low as 0.15 mol %, good yields and excellent enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles with heteroaromatic pi nucleophiles. dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine.