Highly enantioselective alpha-aminoxylation of aldehydes and ketones in ionic liquids.

As the first example for the synthesis of optically active alpha-hydroxyaldehydes and alpha-hydroxyketones in ionic liquids, we applied RTILs into L-proline catalyzed direct enantioselective alpha-aminoxylation of both aldehydes and ketones successfully. This protocol features a number of advantages, such as recycling of green solvents and chiral organocatalyst, high yields, excellent enantioselectivities, short reaction times, and broad substrate scope.