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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
H-Bonded Counterion-Directed Catalysis: Enantioselective Gold(I)-Catalyzed Addition to 2-Alkynyl Enones as a Case
Àlex Martí1,2, Marc Montesinos-Magraner1, Antonio M Echavarren1,2
1Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) Av. Països Catalans 16 43007 Tarragona Spain.
Abstract:
H-bonded counterion-directed catalysis (HCDC) is a strategy wherein a chiral anion that is hydrogen-bonded to the achiral ligand of a metal complex is responsible for enantioinduction. In this article we present the application of H-bonded counterion-directed catalysis to the Au(I)-catalyzed enantioselective tandem cycloisomerization-addition reaction of 2-alkynyl enones. Following the addition of C-, N- or O-centered nucleophiles, bicyclic furans were obtained in moderate to excellent yield and enantioselectivity (28 examples, 59-96 % yield, 62 : 38 to 95 : 5 er). The optimal catalytic system, comprising a phosphinosquaramide Au(I) chloride complex and a BINOL-derived phosphoramidate Ag(I) salt, was selected in a combinatorial fashion from a larger library with the help of high-throughput screening. An enantioselectivity switch of ca. 120 Δee% was observed upon addition of the achiral Au(I) component to the Ag(I) salt.
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