Silver-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction of isocyanoacetic acid derivatives with prolinol-phosphine- <i>sec</i> -amine chiral ligand

Abstract A highly diastereo- and enantioselective silver-catalyzed aldol reaction of isocyanoacetic acid derivatives with aldehydes has been demonstrated using a prolinol-phosphine-sec-amine chiral ligand (L2). The Ag–L2 catalytic system promotes the reaction efficiently, affording the corresponding aldol products in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities (up to trans/cis >99:1% and 98% ee). Evaluation of various prolinol-phosphine chiral ligands suggests that cooperative N–H···O and sp2-C–H···O hydrogen-bonding interactions play a key role in organizing the enolate and controlling stereoselectivity.