Peptide-Catalyzed Highly Asymmetric Cross-Aldol Reaction of Aldehydes to Biomimetically Synthesize 1,4-Dicarbonyls.

β-Turn tetrapeptides were demonstrated to catalyze asymmetric aldol reaction of α-branched aldehydes and α-carbonyl aldehydes, i.e. glyoxylates and α-ketoaldehydes, to biomimetically synthesize acyclic all-carbon quaternary center-bearing 1,4-dicarbonyls in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity under mild conditions. The spatially restricted environment of the tetrapeptide warrants high enantioselectivity and yield with broad substrates. Using this protocol, (R)-pantolactone, the key intermediate of vitamin B5, was readily accessed in a practical, efficient, and environmentally benign process from inexpensive starting materials.