Enantiopure azetidine-2-carboxamides as organocatalysts for direct asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous and organic media

A family of enantiopure azetidine-2-caboxamides was asymmetrically synthesized, and was examined as organocatalyst in direct aldol reactions. A well chosen chiral azetidine-2-caboxamide was found to smoothly catalyze the direct aldol reaction of various benzaldehydes with acetone in brine, and β-hydroxy ketones were produced with enantiomeric excess up to 96%. The reaction of benzaldehydes with cyclic ketones also led to the formation of anti-products in diastereomeric ratio up to 99:1 and enantiomeric excess up to 99%.