A cationic oxazaborolidinium-catalyzed asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction of (1-methoxy-2-methyl-propenyloxy)-trimethylsilane with various aldehydes including α,β-disubstituted acroleins has been developed in high yields and enantioselectivities. The synthetic utility of this methodology was demonstrated in the first short synthesis of naturally occurring inthomycin C in high enantiopurity.

A catalytic synthetic route to highly functionalized chiral cyclopropane derivatives was developed by Michael-initiated cyclopropanation of α-substituted acroleins with aryl- and alkyl diazoacetates. In the presence of chiral (S)-oxazaborolidinium cation 1b as a catalyst, the reaction proceeded in high yield (up to 93%) with high to excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 98% de) and enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee).

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