Direct Enantioselective Organocatalytic Hydroxymethylation of Aldehydes Catalyzed by α,α-Diphenylprolinol Trimethylsilyl Ether

Abstract

The direct enantioselective hydroxymethylation of aldehydes utilizing α,α-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether as an organocatalyst is described. The intermediate α-substituted β-hydroxyaldehydes were not isolated but converted to the more readily isolable derivatives. For example, the derived hydroxy acids were isolated in up to 94% yield with excellent enantioselectivity