Chiral phosphine-prolineamide as an organocatalyst in direct asymmetric aldol reactions

Chiral phosphine-prolineamide 1a was employed as an organocatalyst in direct asymmetric aldol reactions of various aromatic aldehydes with ketones. Cyclohexanone led to the aldol products in up to 98% ee and with good diastereoselectivity using 10 mol % of TFA and 30 mol % of prolineamide 1a in DMF at 0 °C.