Highly anti-selective catalytic aldol reactions of amides with aldehydes.

Barium phenoxide-catalyzed, highly anti-selective direct-type aldol reactions of amides with aldehydes have been developed. In the presence of a slight excess amount of an amide, the desired reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, and a wide range of aromatic, heterocyclic, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes were applicable to afford the desired adducts in high yields with high anti-selectivities. A catalytic, enantioselective reaction of an amide with an aldehyde using a chiral ligand is also described.