Ion Pair Catalyst ‐ Pentanidinium

Abstract In this account, we further describe our already developed N ‐sp 2 hybrid guanidinium as an efficient phase‐transfer catalyst and ion pair catalysis based on N ‐sp 2 hybrid pentanidinium and its application in some new reactions. The sp 3 hybrid quaternary ammonium salt has a tetrahedral structure, which means that three sides of it can be effectively steric, allowing the remaining side to be close to the substrate. However, the sp 2 hybrid ammonium salt allows the substrate to form ion pairs from both directions respectively, so it is a greater challenge to control the stereoselectivity of the reaction. Van der Waals forces, such as hydrogen bonds and interactions, have been used to make electrophiles approach from a certain direction, leading to a higher enantioselectivity. Based on the above idea, we designed an N ‐sp 2 hybrid phase‐transfer catalyst, pentanidinium. Pentanidinium has five conjugated nitrogen atoms, one of which has a formal positive charge, which is necessary for it to become an ion pair catalyst. We have confirmed that pentanidinium can catalyze α‐hydroxylation of 3‐substituted‐2‐oxindoles, Michael addition of 3‐alkyloxindoles with vinyl sulfone, and alkylation reactions of sulfenate anions and dihydrocoumarins, desymmetrization of pro‐chiral sulfinate to afford enantioenriched sulfinate esters. Pentanidinium with side chain structure changes can also be catalyzed efficiently with enantioconvergent halogenophilic nucleophilic substitution, including azidation and thioesterification. In the reaction catalyzed by pentanidinium, it always attracts us with the advantages of low catalytic load and good enantioselectivity.