Pyrrolidine-oxadiazolone conjugate as new organocatalyst for asymmetric aldol condensation

A proline-based, chiral bi-functional organocatalyst containing both pyrrolidine and oxadiazolone heterocycle, has been successfully applied for stereoselective aldol reactions. The replacement of polar -COOH group of proline with bioisostere oxadiazolone ring provides excellent solubility of this catalyst in various organic solvents compared to low soluble proline. As a result, the organocatalyst effectively catalyzed the asymmetric condensation reaction between differently substituted aromatic aldehydes and various symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketones to produce the corresponding aldol products with excellent stereoselectivities (dr: 97:3, ee >99.9%) at room temperature in open-air.