N-acyl oxazolidin-2-selones promoted aldol reactions

Selenocarbonyls that are housed in a chiral environment have been found to play a pivotal role aldol reactions. We have found that, in general,, the aldol reaction affords the non-Evans aldol syn products. However, the use of glycolate donors with glycoaldehydes, under proper conditions, gave rise to predominately the anti aldol.