Ficin-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions of heterocyclic ketones with aldehydes

• Ficin from fig tree latex exhibited distinct catalytic activity in direct asymmetric aldol reactions.
• Different aromatic aldehydes and cyclic or heterocyclic ketones could participate in the reaction.
• The products were obtained in yields up to 44% with enantioselectivities up to 81% ee and dr up to 86:14 (anti/syn).
• This methodology employed the catalytic promiscuity of ficin in asymmetric reaction for the first time.

Ficin from fig tree latex displayed a promiscuous activity to catalyze the direct asymmetric aldol reactions of heterocyclic ketones with aromatic aldehydes. Ficin showed good substrate adaptability to different heterocyclic ketones containing nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. The enantioselectivities up to 81% ee and diastereoselectivities up to 86:14 (anti/syn) were achieved under the optimized reaction conditions.

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