Photoswitchable Chiral Cation-Binding Catalyst: Photocontrol of Catalytic Activity on Enantioselective Aminal Synthesis

Org Lett. 2022 Apr 15;24(14):2670-2674. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c00741. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Abstract

Design of a suitable photoswitchable chiral cation-binding cage for the synthesis of optically active aminals was established using the azobenzene-BINOL hybrid oligoethylene glycol (ABOEG) through E/Z isomerization of the azobenzene unit. Under photoirradiation, both the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of the generating (Z)-ABOEG are enhanced, in contrast to that of (E)-ABOEG, which can be attributed to the geometrically distinct coordination behavior between the metal cation and the oligoethylene glycols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols*
  • Catalysis
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alcohols