Origins of opposite syn-anti diastereoselectivities in primary and secondary amino acid-catalyzed intermolecular aldol reactions involving unmodified α-hydroxyketones

The effects of different amino acid catalysts on the stereoselectivity of the direct intermolecular aldol reactions between alpha-hydroxyketones and isobutyraldehyde or 4-nitrobenzaldehyde have been studied with the aid of density functional theory methods. The transition states of the crucial C-C bond-forming step with the enamine intermediate addition to the aldehyde for the proline and threonine-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions are reported. B3LYP/6-31+G** calculations provide a good explanation for the opposite syn vs anti diastereoselectivity of these two kinds of amino acid catalysts (anti-selectivity for the secondary cyclic amino acids proline, syn-selectivity for the acyclic primary amino acids like threonine). Calculated and observed diastereomeric ratio and enantiomeric excess values are in good agreement.