Proline and 1-(2-(benzoxazole-2-yl)phenyl)-3-phenylthiourea supramolecular organocatalyst in asymmetric aldol reactions

Abstract In this work we report the (S)-proline-thiourea 1 host–guest complex as an efficient catalyst in the enantioselective aldol rection of ketones with aldehydes. This host–guest complex performs well at 0 °C, in a non-polar solvent, such as toluene, or under solvent-less conditions affording high yields (75%-86%), enantioselectivities (er > 87%) and diastereoselectivities (ds > 92%) in the asymmetric aldol reaction of ketones with aldehydes.