Synergistic catalysis: enantioselective addition of alkylbenzoxazoles to enals

Abstract

A novel catalytic enantioselective methodology based on synergistic catalysis is reported. The strategy involves: 1) the metal-Lewis-acid activation of alkylazaarenes, and 2) the secondary-amine activation of enals. Consequently, highly functionalized chiral alkylazaarenes were obtained in good yields and with reasonable stereoselectivity.

Keywords: Michael addition; alkyl azaarenes; iminium catalysis; palladium; synergistic catalysis.