A Novel Asymmetric Benzoin Reaction Catalyzed by a Chiral Triazolium Salt. Preliminary communication

Abstract Using the chiral triazolium salt 1 as catalyst, a novel asymmetric variant of the benzoin reaction is reported. For the first time, the scope of the method is extended to a broader range of aromatic aldehydes 2 , affording the acyloins 3a–h in yields of 22–72% and enantiomeric excesses up to 86%.