Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Retropinacol/Cross-pinacol Coupling Reactions - A Catalytic Access to 1,2-Unsymmetrical Diols
Published on: April 4, 2014
Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-governed aldehyde cross-aldol cascade reaction
Matthew B Boxer1, Hisashi Yamamoto
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Abstract:
The use of the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl (TTMSS) group in aldehyde-derived silyl enol ethers affords aldehyde cross-aldol products with high yields and allows for unprecedented reactivity. The reaction is catalyzed by 0.05 mol % of HNTf2, and can easily be managed to give beta,delta-bis-, beta,delta,gamma-tris-, and beta,delta,zeta-tris-hydroxy-aldehydes with extremely high selectivity by simple stoichiometric control. High diastereoselectivity is obtained in all cases, and the use of chiral aldehydes affords Felkin products when there are nonchelating substituents, chelation products when there is a chelating sbustituent, and syn products when there is beta-substitution. HNTf2 is proposed to be an initiator, and highly Lewis acidic TTMSSNTf2 is the true catalyst.
Related Concept Videos
Crossed Aldol Reaction Using Weak Bases
β-Dicarbonyl Compounds via Crossed Claisen Condensations
Acid Halides to Alcohols: Grignard Reaction
Grignard reagents are a source of carbanions and function as nucleophiles. The mechanism begins with the nucleophilic attack by the carbanion at the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs,...
Radical Reactivity: Overview
Crossed Aldol Reactions: Overview
Phase I Reactions: Oxidation of Carbon-Heteroatom and Miscellaneous Systems
In carbon-nitrogen systems, aliphatic and aromatic amines can undergo oxidative reactions. Secondary and tertiary amines, like those found in tricyclic antidepressants, can undergo N-dealkylation, a process that involves the oxidation of the alkyl group. In addition, oxidative...

