Palladium-polymer nanoreactors for the aqueous asymmetric synthesis of therapeutic flavonoids

Polymeric core–shell micelles incorporating a chiral palladium pyridinooxazoline catalyst are presented as nanoreactors for the aqueous asymmetric synthesis of flavanones, a class of flavonoids with therapeutic properties. Use of the nanoreactor was found to increase catalyst activity, enabling catalysis at room temperature, with low palladium loadings and without any additives.