A highly enantioselective Biginelli reaction using self-assembled methanoproline–thiourea organocatalysts: asymmetric synthesis of 6-isopropyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidines†
Zhijun Hang,Jun Zhu,Xiang Lian,Peng Xu,Sheng Han
Chemical Communications Pub Date : 10/16/2015 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C5CC07880F
Abstract

An efficient self-assembled methanoproline–thiourea organocatalyst for the synthesis of optically active 6-isopropyl-3,4-dihydro-pyrimidines via an asymmetric Biginelli reaction was developed, which is superior to the individual precatalyst. A wide range of optically active 6-isopropyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidines with remarkable pharmacological interest was obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). A plausible transition state has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction.

Graphical abstract: A highly enantioselective Biginelli reaction using self-assembled methanoproline–thiourea organocatalysts: asymmetric synthesis of 6-isopropyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidines