Diastereoselectivity in
Lewis-Acid-Catalyzed Mukaiyama
Aldol Reactions: A DFT Study
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Abstract
The basis for diastereoselectivity in Lewis-acid-catalyzed
Mukaiyama
aldol reactions was studied using density functional theory. By exploring
the conformations of the transition structures for the diastereodifferentiating
step of seven different reactions, simple models were generated. The
effects of varying the substituents on the enol carbon and the α-carbon
of the silyl enol ether from methyl to <i>tert</i>-butyl
groups and the substituent on the aldehyde from methyl to phenyl groups
were investigated by comparison of the transition structures for different
reactions. Expanding on the previous qualitative models by Heathcock
and Denmark, we found that while the pro-<i>anti</i> pathways
take place via antiperiplanar transition structures, the pro-<i>syn</i> pathways prefer synclinal transition structures. The
relative steric effects of the Lewis acid and trimethyl silyl groups
and the influence of <i>E</i>/<i>Z</i> isomerism
on the aldol transition state were investigated. By calculating 36
transition structures at the M06/6-311G*//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory
and employing the IEFPCM polarizable continuum model for solvation
effects, this study expands the mechanistic knowledge and provides
a model for understanding the diastereoselectivity in Lewis-acid-catalyzed
Mukaiyama aldol reactions