Dual catalyst control in the amino acid-peptide-catalyzed enantioselective Baylis-Hillman reaction.

ABSTRACT

[reaction see text] Nucleophile-loaded peptides and proline have been found to function synergistically as cocatalysts for the asymmetric ketone-based Baylis-Hillman reaction. Although neither compound is effective independently in terms of rate or enantioselectivity, their combination leads to catalysis where enantioselectivities up to 81% have been observed.