Synthetically amenable amide derivatives of tosylated-amino acids as organocatalysts for enantioselective allylation of aldehydes: computational rationale for enantioselectivity

A phenylalanine derived chiral amide is developed that serves as an effective organocatalyst for the reaction of allyltrichlorosilane with aryl, hetero-aryl and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to afford the desired homoallylic alcohols in good yield (up to 90%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99%). The experimental results and DFT calculations suggest that para substituted aromatic aldehydes as substrate show higher ee in the product than their ortho/meta counterparts. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra study corroborated the calculated results. The chiral organocatalyst can be easily synthesized from optically pure phenylalanine in two simple steps with 90% overall yield.