Tandem Catalysis: Sequential Hydroformylation-Aldol Reactions

Significance

This report describes an excellent tandem metal-organo-catalysis reaction that generates products with moderate ee values. The authors employ the widely used industrial hydroformylation reaction in combination with the proline-catalyzed direct aldol reaction to generate β-hydroxy ketones. Many catalysts, ligands, CO pressures, and H₂ pressures were screened to optimize this reaction.