Enantioselective trimethylsilylcyanation of some aldehydes catalysed by titanium alkoxide–chiral dialkyl tartrate complexes

Abstract

Highly enantioselective trimethylsilylcyanation of various aldehydes with trimethylsilyl cyanide has been achieved with a modified Sharpless catalyst, consisting of titanium tetraisopropoxide [Ti(OPrⁱ)₄] and chiral diisopropyl tartrate (DIPT). Asymmetric amplification was also observed in the trimethylsilylcyanation of benzaldehyde with a catalyst composed of Ti(OPrⁱ)₄ and partially resolved DIPT.