Highly diastereoselective asymmetric syn-aldol reactions of (R)-(N-tosyl)phenylalaninol propionate-derived titanium enolate and bidentate aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes

Abstract

Asymmetric aldol reactions of ester-derived titanium enolates of (R)-(N-tosyl)phenylalaninol propionate and bidentate aromatic aldehydes has been investigated. Substrate scope of this aldol reaction was examined with a variety of bidentate aromatic aldehydes to provide syn-aldol products with high diastereoselectivity and isolated yields. Both enantiomers of N-(tosyl)phenylalaninol are readily prepared from commercially available and optically active phenylalaninol. Mild saponification removed the chiral auxiliary and furnished optically active β-hydroxy carboxylic acids.