Mechanism and Origin of Enantioselectivity for Asymmetric Passerini Reaction in the Synthesis of Ɑ-Acyloxyamide Catalyzed by Chiral Phosphoric Acid

The enantioselective control of the three-component Passerini reaction was successfully achieved using chiral phosphoric acid as a catalyst with a wide range of substrates and high stereoselectivity. Quantum mechanical calculations reveals the detailed reaction mechanism and enantioselective origin of the reaction. The calculations revealed that the chiral phosphoric acid first forms a stable heterodimer with the carboxylic acid substrate, followed by C-C and C-O bond formations, the generation of a five-membered cyclic intermediate, and finally acyl migration to yield the product. Four reaction paths for the overall process were identified and compared to determine the optimal major and by-product paths. The enantioselective origin of the reaction has been elucidated systematically using distortion/interaction theory and truncated model system. QTAIM and IGMH analyses demonstrated the type and strength of interaction between catalyst and the substrates. The calculated e.e. value was 93 %, which was in good agreement with the experimental value. It is expected that the results of this study will offer new insights into the field of asymmetric Passerini reactions.