Asymmetric azidation-cycloaddition with open-chain peptide-based catalysts. A sequential enantioselective route to triazoles.

ABSTRACT

A family of beta-substituted histidine-containing peptides has been synthesized to probe the effect of noncovalent conformational rigidification on catalyst enantioselectivity. Unambiguous enhancement of enantioselectivity in the conjugate addition of azide to alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylate derivatives has been achieved, enabling application to a sequential asymmetric azidation/cycloaddition for the synthesis of optically enriched triazoles and triazolines.