Enantioselective Small Molecule Synthesis by Carbon Dioxide Fixation using a Dual Bronsted Acid/Base Organocatalyst

Carbon, dioxide exhibits many of the qualities of an ideal reagent: it is nontoxic, plentiful, and inexpensive. Unlike other gaseous reagents, however, it has found limited use in enantioselective synthesis. Moreover, unprecedented is a tool that merges one of the Simplest biological :approaches to catalysis-Bronsted acid/base activation with this abundant reagent. We describe a metal-free small molecule catalyst that achieves the three component reaction between a homoallylic alcohol, carbon dioxide, and an electrophilic Source of iodine. Cyclic carbonates are formed enantioselectively.