Chiral bisformamides as effective organocatalysts for the asymmetric one-pot, three-component strecker reaction

J Org Chem. 2007 Sep 28;72(20):7715-9. doi: 10.1021/jo701307f. Epub 2007 Aug 30.

Abstract

C2-symmetric chiral bisformamides have been shown to catalyze the asymmetric one-pot, three-component Strecker reaction, which produced the alpha-amino nitriles in excellent yields (up to 99%) with good enantioselectivities (up to 86% ee). Optically pure products could be obtained after a single recrystallization. A possible transition state (TS 1) has been proposed to explain the origin of asymmetric inductivity and reactivity according to the geometry of catalyst 2a optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level and the absolute configuration of product 4a.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemical synthesis*
  • Catalysis
  • Formamides / chemistry*
  • Nitriles / chemical synthesis*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Formamides
  • Nitriles