Highly enantio- and diastereoselective reductive aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral spiro bisphosphine oxides

A spiro bisphosphine oxide (SpinPO) was found to be an efficient chiral Lewis base catalyst in asymmetric reductive aldol reaction of enones and aldehydes in the presence of trichlorosilane as the reductant, affording a variety of β-hydroxyketones in good yields with moderate to high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Graphical AbstractA spiro bisphosphine oxide (SpinPO) was found to be a highly enantio- and diastereoselective Lewis base catalyst in reductive aldol reactions of enones and aldehydes in the presence of trichlorosilane as the stoichiometric reductant.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide