A Degenerate Metal-Templated Catalytic System with Redundant Functional Groups for the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction.

A degenerate zinc-templated catalytic system containing two bipyridine ligands with redundant functional groups for either enamine or hydrogen bond formation was applied to the asymmetric aldol reaction. This concept led to both a higher probability of reaction and rate acceleration. Thus, the catalyst loading could be decreased to a remarkable 2 mol % in what we think is a general approach.