Structural study-guided development of versatile phase-transfer catalysts for asymmetric conjugate additions of cyanide

Abstract

Unprecedented phase-transfer catalysts for the first example of an organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of cyanide with acetone cyanohydrin are reported (see scheme). Utilizing an accessible cupreidinium salt and a cyanation reagent suitable for industrial scale, this reaction holds significant promise for practical asymmetric synthesis. The catalysts were developed as a result of key structural insights gained by X-ray analysis. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.