Synergistic Ion-Binding Catalysis Demonstrated via an Enantioselective, Catalytic [2,3]-Wittig Rearrangement

Sigmatropic rearrangements number among the most powerful complexity-building transformations in organic synthesis but have remained largely insensitive to enantioselective catalysis due to the diffuse nature of their transition structures. Here, we describe a synergistic ion-binding strategy for asymmetric catalysis of anionic sigmatropic rearrangements. This approach is demonstrated with the enantioselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of α-allyloxy carbonyl compounds to afford highly enantioenriched homoallylic alcohol products. Chiral thiourea catalysts are shown to engage reactive anions and their countercations through a cooperative set of attractive, noncovalent interactions. Catalyst structure–reactivity–selectivity relationship studies and computational analyses provide insight into catalyst–substrate interactions responsible for enantioinduction and allude to the potential generality of this catalytic strategy.