Asymmetric Brønsted Acid Catalysis: Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Highly Biologically Active Dihydroquinazolinones

Abstract

Surprisingly straightforward: A metal-free, highly enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed condensation/addition reaction has been developed for the construction of 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones starting from 2-aminobenzamide and aldehydes (see scheme). This efficient approach provides 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones with a strong preference for the S enantiomers, which have higher biological activities than the R enantiomers.