Asymmetric trifluoromethylation of ketones with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane catalyzed by cinchonidine-derived quaternary ammonium phenoxides proceeded smoothly to afford the trifluoromethylated compounds in high yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities.

A vinylogous aldol-type reaction between 4-methyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)furan and aldehydes catalyzed by cinchonidine-derived quaternary ammonium phenoxide proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding 5-substituted butenolide derivatives in high yields with good to excellent diastereo- and enantio-selectivities.

Chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides were readily prepared from commercially available cinchona alkaloids and proved to be useful new asymmetric organocatalysts. Among various chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides, a cinchonidine-derived catalyst that bears both a sterically hindered N1-9-anthracenylmethyl group and a strongly electron withdrawing 9-O-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl group were found to be highly effective for the Michael addition of ketene silyl acetals (derived from phenyl carboxylates) and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones followed by lactonization. Optically active 3,4-dihydropyran-2-one derivatives were obtained in high yields with excellent control of enantio- and diastereoselectivity. This catalyst can be handled in air and stored at room temperature in a sealed bottle without decomposition for at least one month.

Chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides were prepared readily from commercially available cinchona alkaloids and employed as novel useful asymmetric organocatalysts. Among these chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides, a cinchonidine-derived phenoxide that possesses a sterically hindered N(1)-3,5-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzyl group was the most effective for asymmetric trifluoromethylation. In the presence of a catalytic amount of Lewis bases, such as cinchonidine-derived quaternary ammonium phenoxides, catalyzed the reaction of various ketones with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane to afford the corresponding trifluoromethylated adducts in high yields and with moderate to high enantioselectivities.

No abstract