A general approach to the enantioselective α-oxidation of aldehydes via synergistic catalysis.

A new enantioselective α-oxidation of aldehydes has been accomplished using TEMPO and a synergistic combination of copper and organic catalysis. Expanding upon recently reported mechanistic studies, these mild catalytic conditions provide stable aldehyde products bearing a wide array of electronically and sterically diverse substructures. The utility of these oxidized products is highlighted by subsequent derivatization to a variety of common chiral synthons, without loss in enantiopurity.