Camphor-based α-bromoketones for the asymmetric darzens reaction: Insights into the mechanism using density functional theory

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level were carried out to investigate the mechanism of the reaction of benzaldehyde (BA) or acetaldehyde (AD) with (1R)-2-endo-bromoacetyl-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol (endo-2-bromoacetylisoborneol) 1 (Scheme 1). The calculations indicate that the reactions are diastereoselective, in good agreement with the experimental results [1]. Moreover, the calculations show that these reactions proceed via two steps: (1) an aldol-like reaction and (2) the formation of an epoxide. Our calculation study of the transition states demonstrates that the terminal hydroxyl group in compound 1 is vital for the stereoselectivity of the reactions.