Merging Organocatalysis with Transition Metal Catalysis: Highly Stereoselective α-Alkylation of Aldehydes

The unprecedented cooperative systems involving a diarylprolinol silyl ether with various Lewis acids have been found to effect the highly enantioselective intermolecular α-alkylation of aldehydes. A wide variety of aldehydes and alcohols can be transformed into the desired highly functionalized aldehydes in high yields, excellent enantioselectivities, and good diastereoselectivities at room temperature under mild conditions.