Anion-Abstraction Catalysis: The Cooperative Mechanism of α-Chloroether Activation by Dual Hydrogen-Bond Donors.

We provide here a detailed mechanistic characterization of the electrophile-activation step in a representative thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective reaction proposed to involve generation of ion-pair intermediates. Comparison of catalyst-promoted substrate epimerization with catalytic alkylation points to the participation of a common intermediate in both pathways and provides conclusive evidence for anion abstraction via an SN1-like pathway involving the cooperative action of two catalyst molecules.