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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: February 20, 2020
Asymmetric Aza-Diels-Alder Reaction with Ion-Paired-Iron Lewis Acid-Brønsted Acid Catalyst
Rei Tomifuji1, Takuya Kurahashi1, Seijiro Matsubara1
1Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan.
Abstract:
The development and use of a multiple-activation catalyst with ion-paired Lewis acid and Brønsted acid in an asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction of simple dienes (non-Danishefsky-type electron-rich dienes) was achieved by utilizing the [FeBr2 ]+ [FeBr4 ]- combination prepared in situ from FeBr3 and chiral phosphoric acid. Synergistic effects of the highly active ion-paired Lewis acid [FeBr2 ]+ [FeBr4 ]- and a chiral Brønsted acid are important for promoting the reaction with high turnover frequency and high enantioselectivity. The multiple-activation catalyst system was confirmed using synchrotron-based X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, and theoretical studies. This study reveals that the developed catalyst promoted the reaction not only by the interaction offered by the ion-paired Lewis acid and the Brønsted acid but also noncovalent interactions.
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