A doubly stereocontrolled organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition to the synthesis of substituted succinimides is described. Starting from aldehydes and maleimides, both enantiomers of the succinimides could be obtained in high to excellent yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99%) when one of the two special chiral diterpene-derived bifunctional thioureas was individually used as a catalyst. Moreover, these catalysts can be efficiently used in large-scale catalytic synthesis with the same level of yield and enantioselectivity.

A novel sodium sulfonate gelator self-assembles through waterassisted Na + coordination to gelate halohydrocarbon solvents selectively with a C gel as low as 0.1% w/v. In situ gel formation can be achieved by adding the relative sulfonic acid to an organic solventbrine two-phase system at room temperature.

An approach based on combinations of various water compatible Lewis acids and lipophilic group containing amphiphilic prolinamide co‐catalysts has been evaluated for the direct asymmetric Aldol reaction. From the broad screening of chloride salts from alkali metal to transition metal, LiCl, ZnCl2 and SnCl2 lead to the highest stereoselectivities. The optimized catalytic conditions (10 mol% prolinamide with 10 mol% MCl2 or 20 mol% LiCl at room temperature on water) gave anti‐products with improved enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) compared to the moderately stereoselective procedure based on prolinamide activation only.

The presented work suggests that Aldol catalysis with salt under hydrophilic conditions could provide a chiral influence in prebiotic chemistry.