Recyclable chiral diamine-polyoxometalate (POM) acids catalyzed asymmetric direct aldol reaction of aromatic aldehydes with long-chain aliphatic ketones

In this Letter, we studied the asymmetric direct aldol reaction of long-chain aliphatic ketones with aromatic aldehydes, using chiral diamine-polyoxometalate acid combined organocatalysts. High yields (up to 90%) and enantioselectivities (up to 90% ee) were obtained under solvent-free conditions with the optimized catalyst. Furthermore, such organocatalysts could be easily recycled and reused for four times without significant loss of reactivity and enantioselectivity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.