Asymmetric Addition of Hydrogen Cyanide to Substituted Benzaldehydes Catalyzed by a Synthetic Cyclic Peptide, Cyclo((S)-phenylalanyl-(S)-histidyl)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.59.893

Using cyclo((S)-phenylalanyl-(S)-histidyl) as catalyst, optically active cyanohydrins from substituted benzaldehydes with p-methyl, m-methyl, o-methyl, m-methoxyl, or m-phenoxyl group were obtained with optical yield of 82-33percent.For the asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis, nonpolar solvent such as benzene or carbon tetrachloride was advantageous, while on asymmetric synthesis took place in methanol or dimethyl sulfoxide.