Pd/La Complex for anti-Selective Catalytic Asymmetric Nitroaldol Reactions

Key words

Henry reaction - heterobimetallic - Schiff bases - palladium - lanthanum

Significance

A limited number of reports describe the anti-selective synthesis of chiral β-amino alcohols. This report describes the design of a simple and efficient catalyst with a broad substrate scope and practical applicability. The authors nicely demonstrate the short syntheses of two β-adrenoceptor agonists.

Comment

Typically the methods for the synthesis of anti-selective chiral β-amino alcohols require the activation of nitroalkanes to silyl­­nitronates. The authors avoid this activation using their het­erobimetallic catalysts extensively studied in their laboratory. This report states that palladium and lanthanum efficiently and selectively produce the desired anti-products in moderate to excellent yields.