N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric Benzoin Reaction in Water.
Jun YanRong SunKuangxi ShiKai LiLimin YangGuofu ZhongPublished in: The Journal of organic chemistry (2018)
A chiral N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed benzoin condensation reaction in water has been developed, affording α-hydroxy ketones in good to high yields and high enantioselectivities. Water was proposed as a proton shuttle in the aqueous asymmetric condensation reaction.