Permethylated NHC-Capped α- and β-Cyclodextrins (ICyDMe) Regioselective and Enantioselective Gold-Catalysis in Pure Water

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/chem.202001990

A series of water-soluble encapsulated copper(I), silver(I) or gold(I) complexes based on NHC-capped permethylated cyclodextrins (ICyD^Me) were developed and used as catalysts in pure water for hydration, lactonization, hydroarylation and cycloisomerization reactions. ICyD^Me ligands gave cavity-based high regioselectivity in hydroarylations, and high enantioselectivities in gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations reactions giving up to 98 % ee in water. These ICyD^Me are therefore useful ligands for selective catalysis in pure water.