Direct asymmetric alpha-amination of cyclic ketones catalyzed by siloxyproline.

trans-tert-Butyldimethylsiloxy-L-proline displays greater catalytic activity and affords higher enantioselectivity than the parent proline in the alpha-amination reaction of carbonyl compounds with azodicarboxylate. A quantum mechanical calculation reveals the structure of the transition state. In the presence of a catalytic amount of siloxyproline and water (3-9 equiv), alpha-amino carbonyl derivatives, which are important synthetic intermediates, are obtained in good yield and with excellent enantioselectivity.

Organic solvent-free, enantio- and diastereoselective, direct Mannich reaction in the presence of water.

An organocatalyst-mediated, asymmetric Mannich reaction in the presence of water without using organic solvents has been developed. A highly reactive siloxytetrazole hybrid catalyst has been developed for the reaction of dimethoxyacetaldehyde, while the sodium salt of siloxyproline is an effective catalyst of alpha-imino glyoxylate. Excellent enantioselectivity can be realized, and the usage of organic solvents can be reduced compared to the conventional reactions in organic solvents.

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct aldol reactions of aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by siloxyproline in the presence of water.

Proline-based organocatalysts have been developed for a highly enantioselective, direct aldol reaction of aldehydes and ketones in the presence of water. While several surfactant-proline combined catalysts have proved effective, proline derivatives with a hydrophobic moiety such as trans-siloxy-L-proline and cis-siloxy-D-proline, both of which are easily prepared from the same commercially available 4-hydroxy-L-proline, have been found to be the most effective organocatalysts examined in this study, affording the aldol product with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities, these two catalysts generating opposite enantiomers. Water affects the selectivity, and poor results are obtained under neat reaction conditions or in dry organic solvents. More than three equivalents of water are required for the best diastereo- and enantioselectivities, while three equivalents is the recommended amount from a synthetic point of view. The reaction proceeds in the organic phase, and also proceeds in the presence of a large amount of water. The large-scale preparation of aldols with the minimal use of an organic solvent, including in the purification step, is described.

Small organic molecule in enantioselective, direct aldol reaction "in water".

A small organic molecule, Pro-NH(2), catalyzing the enantioselective aldol reaction "in water" not merely "in the presence of water" with good enantioselectivity has been discovered for the first time.

Dry and wet prolines for asymmetric organic solvent-free aldehyde-aldehyde and aldehyde-ketone aldol reactions.

Dry and wet prolines were found to catalyze the direct aldol reactions of aldehyde-aldehyde and aldehyde-ketone, respectively, to afford aldols with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities, and an organic solvent-free reaction was realized in some cases.