Design of Highly Enantioselective Organocatalysts Based on Molecular Recognition

Various organocatalysts have been designed based on molecular recognition to catalyze the asymmetric direct aldol reaction of ketones with
aryl and alkyl α-keto acids, affording β-hydroxyl carboxylic acids with a tertiary stereogenic center with excellent enantioselectivities of up
to 98% ee. A linear effect was observed for the reaction, demonstrating a single molecule of the catalyst involved in the catalysis.