Enantioselective organocatalytic singly occupied molecular orbital activation:: The enantioselective α-enolation of aldehydes

The first enantioselective organocatalytic alpha-enolation of aldehydes has been accomplished using singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) catalysis. Chiral secondary amines react with aldehydes to form transient enamines that undergo selective one-electron oxidation to generate electrophilic radical cations. These SOMO-activated radical cations are susceptible to attack by ketone-derived enol silanes, rendering alpha-substituted-gamma-ketoaldehyde products with uniformly high levels of asymmetric induction. Wide latitude in both the aldehyde and enolsilane component is readily accommodated, allowing generic access to a diverse assortment of enantioenriched 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. This report highlights the potential of SOMO catalysis to enable the development of entirely new classes of asymmetric reactions that have no traditional catalytic equivalents.