Enantioselective Aldol Reactions in Water by a Proline-Derived Cryptand and Fixation of CO2 by Its Exocyclic Co(II) Complex

The secondary amine donors present in the bridges of a laterally nonsymmetric oxa-aza cryptand have been derivatized with l-proline to obtain the chiral cryptand L. The cryptand L efficiently catalyzed aldol reactions in water with up to 75% ee. On reacting with Co(II) perchlorate in the presence of KSCN, L readily formed the trinuclear complex {[Co3(L)2(NCS)6]·(15CH3CN)(5acetone)(6H2O)} (1). The complex 1 in combination with the cocatalyst tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) formed an efficient catalytic system in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.