Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a helicenoidal DMAP Lewis base catalyst

Org Lett. 2011 Mar 4;13(5):1250-3. doi: 10.1021/ol2001705. Epub 2011 Feb 8.

Abstract

The design, synthesis, and study of a helical dialkylaminopyridine Lewis base catalyst is reported. Helical DMAP analogue 4 is based upon a helicenoid structure and displays good to excellent levels of selectivity (S ≤ 116) in the kinetic resolution of chiral secondary alcohols. Catalyst 4 displays excellent reactivity with exceptionally low loadings of 0.05 mol % effecting practical levels of selectivity in kinetic resolutions.