Organocatalysis with cysteine derivatives: recoverable and cheap chiral catalyst for direct aldol reactions

Highly enantioselective, recoverable and cheap cysteine derivatives have been developed with improved solubility properties in common, nonpolar organic solvents. The reactions were catalyzed using 5 mol% 1e, and the aldol products could be obtained with up to 99:1 syn/anti ratio and > 99% ee. The catalyst could be easily recovered and reused, with only a slight decrease of enantioselectivity observed for five cycles. Catalyst 1e can be efficiently used in large-scale reactions with enantioselectivity being maintained at the same level, which offers great possibility for application in industry.