Asymmetric induction in the solid state photochemistry of an α- mesitylacetophenone derivative through the use of ionic chiral auxiliaries

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01867-5

Irradiation in the crystalline state of salts formed between α- mesitylacetophenone-p-carboxylic acid and a variety of optically pure amines - the so-called 'ionic chiral auxiliary' approach to asymmetric synthesis - leads to the corresponding 2-indanol in excellent yield and in high enantiomeric excess. X-Ray crystallography reveals the source of the enantioselectivity.