Development of Axial-Chiral Lewis Base Catalysts for Asymmetric Synthesis

Abstract

Asymmetric Synthesis has become an essential tool to provide materials necessary to our everyday lives. The asymmetric formation of carbon-carbon bonds is the most important process in the construction of asymmetric organic molecules as this is how the structure/shape of a molecule is formed. Synthetic chiral molecules exist as agrochemicals, food additives, and pharmaceuticals, among other applications. As the demand for these materials has increased along with the growing population and scientific/technological advancements in these areas, the need for sustainable and efficient synthetic methods has come forefront as a scientific challenge. Chlorosilanes have emerged as an attractive reagent class for asymmetric synthesis. They have been shown to form powerful reaction intermediates when complexed with Lewis bases in numerous nucleophilic additions to carbonyls and their analogues. Herein is reported the development of a tunable axial-chiral Lewis base catalyst system and its demonstrated use with chlorosilanes in asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation.