Aqueous organocatalyzed aldol reaction of glyoxylic acid for the enantioselective synthesis of α-hydroxy-γ-keto acids

N-Tosyl-(Sa)-binam-L-prolinamide is an efficient catalyst for the aqueous aldol reaction, between glyoxylic acid, as monohydrate or aqueous solution, and ketones. This reaction led to the formation of chiral α-hydroxy-γ-keto carboxylic acids in high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivities achieving mainly anti aldol products.

This work was financially supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO: Projects: CTQ2010-20387 and Consolider INGENIO CSD2007-0006), the Generalitat Valenciana Prometeo/2009/039, the University of Alicante and the EU (ORCA action CM0905).