Organocatalytic Synthesis of Chiral Halogenated Compounds

Abstract

This account summarizes our recent efforts in the enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of chiral halogenated compounds. The enantioselective α-halogenation of aldehydes, decarboxylative chlorination of β-keto acids, and enantioselective C-C bond formation at the trifluoromethylated prochiral carbon to yield the corresponding organohalides with chlorinated, fluorinated, or trifluoromethylated chiral stereogenic centers are discussed. We applied common organocatalysts, such as Jørgensen-Hayashi catalyst and cinchona alkaloid-derivatived catalyst, and developed novel chiral amine catalysts for these reactions. This account also discusses stereospecific derivatizations of the resulting chiral halogenated compounds via nucleophilic substitution. Thus, we synthesized many novel chiral compounds that have not been reported, even as racemates.

Keywords: SN2 reaction; asymmetric synthesis; enantioselective halogenation; organocatalyst; trifluoromethyl compounds.