Quantum Mechanical Transition-State Analysis Reveals the Precise Origin of Stereoselectivity in Chiral Quaternary Cinchonidinium Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Enolate Allylation

Density functional theory was used to model glycinate enolate binding and enantiomeric allylation transition states mediated by the cinchonidinium phase-transfer catalyst 2. Transition states show oxy-anion-ammonium interactions in contrast to pi-face interactions in the ground states. The details of stereoselectivity are described within the quaternary ammonium-tetrahedron face model.