Development of bifunctional aza-bis(oxazoline) copper catalysts for enantioselective Henry reaction.

Base-functionalized aza-bis(oxazoline) ligands were prepared to explore the concept of dual activation through the Lewis acid and a tethered tertiary amine base. The catalytic activity of the Cu complex was evaluated for the asymmetric Henry reaction. Compared with a corresponding unfunctionalized copper complex with external 1-benzyl-4-ethylpiperazine base, the ethylpiperazine-functionalized aza-bis(oxazoline) copper catalyst resulted in rate acceleration (2.5 times) as well as improved enantioselectivity (72% ee vs 92% ee).