Enantioselective, organocatalytic reduction of ketones using bifunctional thiourea-amine catalysts

Org Lett. 2010 Apr 16;12(8):1756-9. doi: 10.1021/ol100365c.

Abstract

Prochiral ketones are reduced to enantioenriched, secondary alcohols using catecholborane and a family of air-stable, bifunctional thiourea-amine organocatalysts. Asymmetric induction is proposed to arise from the in situ complexation between the borane and chiral thiourea-amine organocatalyst resulting in a stereochemically biased boronate-amine complex. The hydride in the complex is endowed with enhanced nucleophilicity while the thiourea concomitantly embraces and activates the carbonyl.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Ketones / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thiourea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Ketones
  • Thiourea