Enantioselective synthesis of chiral α-thio-quaternary stereogenic centers via phase-transfer-catalyzed α-alkylation of α-acylthiomalonates

Abstract

An efficient synthetic method for establishing chiral α-thio-α-quaternary stereogenic center was successfully developed. The enantioselective α-alkylation of α-acylthiomalonates under phase-transfer catalytic conditions [50% aq. KOH, toluene, −20 °C, and (S,S)-3,4,5-trifluorophenyl-NAS bromide] provided the corresponding α-acylthio-α-alkylmalonates in high chemical yields (up to 99%) and high optical yields (up to 98% ee).