Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Halo Carboxylic Acids from α,α-Dihalo Aldehydes

Significance

The enantioselective hydration of α,α-dichloro aldehydes and α-fluoro enals catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbene 1 has been reported. α-Fluoro and α-chloro carboxylic acids 2 and 3 were obtained in good yields with high enantioselectivity. The developed reaction enables incorporation of an α-deuterium to give rise to enantioenriched α-deutero α-halo acids using D₂O as the deuterium source.