Asymmetric Carbon-Carbon Bond Forming Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Schiff Base-Titanium Alkoxide Complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)89374-1

The enantioselective addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to a variety of aldehydes proceeded by the aid of a catalyst prepared in situ from titanium tetraisopropoxide and chiral Schiff bases and gave the corresponding cyanohydrins in high optical yield (up to 96percent e.e.).A remarkable rate enhancement was brought about by the addition of the Schiff base to the titanium alkoxide mediated silylcyanation of aldehydes.This catalyst system also promoted the highly enantioselective reaction of diketene with aldehydes, which led to the formation of optically active 5-hydroxy-3-oxoesters.