Chiral 1,2,3-triazoliums have been designed, and the rational structural modification based on their unique anion-binding abilities has led to the establishment of the highly enantioselective alkylation of 3-substituted oxindoles.

The stereoselective cyanoalkylation of electron-deficient olefins with potassium cyanide and alkyl halides was developed based on the utilization of modular chiral 1,2,3-triazolium salts featuring a hydrogen bond-donor ability as catalysts. The reaction involving multiple carbon−carbon bond formations proceeds via the enantioselective conjugate addition of a cyanide ion and the consecutive catalyst-controlled diastereoselective alkylation of intermediary chiral triazolium enolates. Control experiments revealed that the use of a properly tuned chiral triazolium ion as a catalyst and the presence of the cyano functionality in the intermediary enolate are of crucial importance for achieving high levels of acyclic absolute and relative stereocontrol. Article pubs.acs.org/JACS

A catalytic asymmetric alkylation of fully substituted enolates with racemic, non-activated secondary alkyl halides is described. The chiral 1,2,3-triazolium ion enables excellent diastereo- and enantiocontrol via enantiofacial discrimination of prochiral enolates and kinetic resolution of secondary halides.

A catalytic transformation of N‐unprotected l‐amino esters to N‐protected d‐amino esters was developed. The combined use of a heteroaromatic aldehyde, Lewis acid, palladium complex, and chiral Brønsted acid was a key factor for the successful operation of this catalytic system. The synergistic cooperation of an appropriate aldehyde and Lewis acid was crucial for promoting an efficient racemization of l‐amino esters, while the combination of a palladium complex and chiral phosphoric acid enabled dynamic kinetic resolution through asymmetric N‐allylation, providing N‐protected d‐amino esters in good yields with up to 97 : 3 er. Following appropriate deprotection processes, d‐amino acids were obtained without loss of enantiomeric purity.