N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydration: Direct Synthesis of α-Protio and α-Deuterio α-Chloro and α-Fluoro Carboxylic Acids

Asymmetric hydration of alpha,alpha-dichloro aldehydes and alpha-halo enals via a NHC-catalyzed redox process to yield enantioenriched alpha-chloro and alpha-fluoro carboxylic acids is described herein. The developed reaction allows for installation of an alpha-deuterium to give rise to enantioenriched alpha-deutero alpha-halo acids Using D2O as the deuteron source.