Asymmetric aldol reaction using immobilized proline on mesoporous support

The aldol reaction of hydroxyacetone with different aldehydes using immobilized proline on a mesoporous support, assisted by heat and microwaves, has been explored. It was found that heterogenized L-proline on MCM-41 catalyzed aldol reactions in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents, and provided stereoselectivities in some cases com-plementary to the homogeneous catalyst. The heterogeneous catalysts could be reused without significant lost of stereoselectivity.