H-Bond Mediated Phase-Transfer Catalysis: Enantioselective Generating of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers in ß-Keto Esters.

In this work, we would like to present the development of a highly optimized method for generating the quaternary stereogenic centers in ß-keto esters. This enantioselective phase-transfer alkylation catalyzed by hybrid Cinchona catalysts allows for the efficient generation of the optically active products with excellent enantioselectivity, using only 1 mol% of the catalyst. The vast majority of phase-transfer catalysts in asymmetric synthesis work by creating ionic pairs with the nucleophile-attacking anionic substrate. Therefore, it is a sensible approach to search for new methodologies capable of introducing functional groups into the precursor's structure, maintaining high yields and enantiomeric purity.