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Updated: May 4, 2026

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Complementary catalytic strategies to access alpha-chiral aldehydes
1Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, Geneva. clement.mazet@unige.ch
Abstract:
The present article summarizes the development of two novel and complementary catalytic methods to access alpha-chiral aldehydes. A C1-symmetric chiral (P,N) ligand with a structure derived from the ubiquitous binepine scaffold has been specifically designed for the Pd-catalyzed alpha-arylation of aldehydes to access indane derivatives with a well-defined quaternary stereocenter in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, a dinuclear palladium hydride catalyst has been synthesized for the isomerization of terminal and trisubstituted epoxides into aldehydes and ketones respectively. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations pointed to an unprecedented 'epoxide-opening/hydride-transfer' sequence. The mechanism also features two distinct enantio-determining steps in the kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides.
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