Tertiary amine promoted asymmetric aldol reaction of aldehydes

The direct asymmetric self-aldol reactions of various α-oxyaldehydes catalyzed by tertiary amines have been demonstrated. By using 10 mol-% of quinine catalyst, dimerization products have been prepared in high yields, with good anti-diastereocontrol, and up to 80 % ee. The presented enolate-mediated synthesis of protected tetrose sugars has never been accomplished before by chiral tertiary amine organocatalysts.