Synthesis 2008(13): 2065-2072  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1067104
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Merrifield Resin Supported Dipeptides: Efficient and Recyclable Organo­catalysts for Asymmetric Aldol Reactions under Neat Reaction Conditions

Jincan Yana, Lei Wang*a,b
a Department of Chemistry, Huaibei Coal Teachers College, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, P. R. of China
Fax: +86(561)3090518; e-Mail: leiwang@hbcnc.edu.cn;
b State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, P. R. of China
Further Information

Publication History

Received 3 March 2008
Publication Date:
21 May 2008 (online)

Abstract

A number of Merrifield resin supported dipeptide and tripeptide catalysts have been developed of which Pro-Ala-O-P, catalyst A, was found to be an efficient catalyst for asymmetric direct aldol reactions. Aldehydes and ketones underwent smooth aldol reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of A at room temperature under neat reaction conditions and generated the corresponding products with excellent isolated yields (≤98%), good diastereoselectivities (dr ≤ 90:10) and enantioselectivities (≤95% ee). In addition, catalyst A could be used seven times without loss of its catalytic activity.