Direct catalytic enantioselective cross aldol-typereaction of an acetate surrogate was developed using Cu alkoxide-chiral phosphine complexes as catalysts. Chemoselective activation and deprotonation of the donor substrate (acetonitrile) by the soft metal alkoxide in a strongly donating solvent (HMPA) are key to success in this reaction. Useful chemical yields and promising enantioselectivities are
Efficient Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of β-Hydroxy Nitriles. Correction of Absolute Configuration and Transformation to Chiral β-Hydroxy Acids and γ-Amino Alcohols
Chemoenzymatic dynamickineticresolution of β-hydroxy nitriles 1 has been carried out using Candida antarctica lipase B and a ruthenium catalyst. The use of a hydrogen source to depress ketone formation in the dynamickineticresolution yields the corresponding acetates 2 in good yield and high enantioselectivity. It is shown that the ruthenium catalyst and the enzyme can be recycled when used in