Synergistic Ion-Binding Catalysis Demonstrated via an Enantioselective, Catalytic [2,3]-Wittig Rearrangement

Sigmatropic rearrangements number among the most powerful complexity-building transformations in organic synthesis but have remained largely insensitive to enantioselective catalysis due to the diffuse nature of their transition structures. Here, we describe a synergistic ion-binding strategy for asymmetric catalysis of anionic sigmatropic rearrangements. This approach is demonstrated with the enantioselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of α-allyloxy carbonyl compounds to afford highly enantioenriched homoallylic alcohol products. Chiral thiourea catalysts are shown to engage reactive anions and their countercations through a cooperative set of attractive, noncovalent interactions. Catalyst structure-reactivity-selectivity relationship studies and computational analyses provide insight into catalyst-substrate interactions responsible for enantioinduction and allude to the potential generality of this catalytic strategy.