Synlett 2014; 25(12): 1735-1738
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1339112
letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Asymmetric Henry Reaction Catalyzed by a Chiral Dinuclear Nickel Complex

Yajun Liu
a   School of Pharmaceutical Science, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(23)68485161   Email: hzhou@cqmu.edu.cn
,
Ping Deng
a   School of Pharmaceutical Science, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(23)68485161   Email: hzhou@cqmu.edu.cn
,
Xiangyang Li
b   School of Pediatrics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P. R. of China
,
Yan Xiong
c   School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. of China
,
Hui Zhou*
a   School of Pharmaceutical Science, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(23)68485161   Email: hzhou@cqmu.edu.cn
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 22 March 2014

Accepted after revision: 18 April 2014

Publication Date:
05 June 2014 (online)


Abstract

Several chiral polyfunctional ligands were conveniently synthesized from l-amino acids and used to prepare the dinuclear complex in situ. A novel bimetallic catalyst containing dinuclear nickel was developed and applied to the asymmetric Henry reaction. With the assistance of N-methylmorpholine, good enantio­selectivities (up to 91% ee) and moderate yields (up to 72%) were obtained for aryl, heteroaryl, and aliphatic aldehydes. The pathway was air tolerant and easily manipulated, and the reagents were readily available.

Supporting Information