Massive parallel catalyst screening: toward asymmetric MCRs.

[reaction: see text]. Hundreds of Lewis acid/ligand combinations have been screened for stereochemical induction in the Passerini multicomponent reaction. The combination of titan tetraisopropylate and (4S,5S)-4,5-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyldioxolane was found to give enantiomeric excesses between 32% and 42% in several examples. The absolute stereo induction of one example was determined chemically and by means of X-ray crystallography. This comprises the first asymmetric Passerini reaction and the first example of a stereochemical induction in an isocyanide based multicomponent reaction by a chiral Lewis acid.