Vicinal amino alcohols as organocatalysts in asymmetric cross-aldol reaction of ketones: application in the synthesis of convolutamydine A.

Leucinol and valinol have been identified as efficient organocatalysts for the aldol reaction of isatin and its derivatives (as examples of activated, non-enolizable ketones) with acetone. Uncommon mechanistic features were observed and used in the formulation of the transition state of the reaction.