Synthesis of and asymmetric induction by chiral bicyclic thiazolium salts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00681-3

Three different chiral bicyclic thiazolium salts, 10, 16 and 19, have been synthesised in enantiomerically pure form. These salts all catalysed the formation of benzoin and butyroin from benzaldehyde and butyraldehyde respectively and the product had the R-configuration in each case with e.e.'s in the range 10-33%. Possible reasons for these results are discussed.