The first catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction of various unprotected carboxylic acids is described. In the presence of a chiral bis(phosphine oxide) as a Lewis base catalyst, carboxylic acids were activated with silicon tetrachloride to form the corresponding bis(trichlorosilyl)enediolates in situ, which subsequently underwent an aldol reaction with an aldehyde or a ketone to produce β-hydroxycarboxylic acids in high enantioselectivities of up to 92 % ee.
Keywords: aldol reaction; carboxylic acids; hypervalent silicon; organocatalysis; phosphine oxides.
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