4-Hydroxyproline containing podands as new chiralcatalysts for the asymmetric Biginelli reaction

The novel C₂-symmetric chiral organocatalysts of (2S,4R)-hydroxyproline containing podand type have been synthesized and evaluated in the asymmetric Biginelli reaction. Combination of polyether spacer with (2S,4R)-hydroxyproline allowed one to enhance the effect of the latter on enantioselectivity of the Biginelli reaction by a factor of 5. The best results have been achieved for salts of (2S,4R)-hydroxyproline containing podands with trifluoroacetic acid.