Enantioselective Desymmetrization of 1,3-Diols by a Chiral DMAP Derivative

We developed an enantioselective desymmetrization of 1,3-diols by a chiral N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine (DMAP) derivative containing a 1,1′-binaphthyl with tert-alcohol units. The reactions required only 0.1 mol % of catalyst and showed moderate to high chemoselectivity (monoacylation vs. diacylation) and enantioselectivity (14 examples, up to 95:5 er). Several control experiments revealed that diol units in both the substrate and the catalyst are important to achieve high enantioselectivity.