Enantioselective Synthesis of Hydroxy-Substituted DBN-Type Amidines as Potential Chiral Catalysts

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of three enantiopure hydroxy-substituted amidines of the DBN-type are described. The key starting material, a 5-(phenylsulfonyl)pyrrolidin-2-one, was obtained by an oxazaborolidine-catalysed reductive desymmetrization of a meso-imide and was functionalized through N-acyliminium ion chemistry. The hydroxy groups were introduced by ozonolysis or reduction. Preliminary results on the use of the hydroxyamidines as chiral, bifunctional catalysts in selected Michael reactions are described.