Highly efficient 4-phenoxy substituted organocatalysts derived from N-prolylsulfonamide for the asymmetric direct aldol reaction on water

The introduction of phenoxy groups at the hydroxy function of N-arylsulfonyl derivatives of trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline resulted in efficient hydrophobic organocatalysts, which could efficiently catalyze the direct aldol reactions of cyclic ketones with a series of aromatic aldehydes in water with excellent yields (99%), anti diastereoselectivities (up to 99%) and enantiomeric excess (99%).