Organocatalytic asymmetric nitroaldol reaction: cooperative effects of guanidine and thiourea functional groups

Chem Asian J. 2007 Sep 3;2(9):1150-60. doi: 10.1002/asia.200700145.

Abstract

Catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective nitroaldol reactions were explored by using designed guanidine-thiourea bifunctional organocatalysts under mild and operationally simple biphasic conditions. These catalytic asymmetric reactions have a broad substrate generality with respect to the variety of aldehydes and nitroalkanes. Based on this catalytic nitroaldol process, straightforward syntheses of cytoxazone and 4-epi-cytoxazone were achieved. These catalytic nitroaldol reactions require KI as an additive for highly asymmetric induction; it operates by inhibiting the retro mode of the reaction. On the basis of studies of structure and catalytic-activity relationships, a plausible guanidine-thiourea cooperative mechanism and a transition state of the catalytic reactions are proposed. Drastic substituent effects on the catalytic properties of this catalyst may lead to the development of new chiral surfactants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Guanidine / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Thiourea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • 3-hydroxybutanal
  • Thiourea
  • Guanidine