Green asymmetric synthesis: β-amino alcohol-catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous micelles.

The ability of chiral β-amino alcohols to catalyze the direct asymmetric aldol reaction was evaluated for the first time in aqueous micellar media. A family of cheap and easily accessible β-amino alcohols, obtained in one step from naturally occurring amino acids, was shown to successfully catalyze the asymmetric aldol reaction between a series of ketones and aromatic aldehydes. These aldol reactions furnished the corresponding β-hydroxy ketones with up to 93% isolated yield and 89% ee. (S)-2-phenylglycinol and Triton X-100 proved to be the best organocatalyst and surfactant, respectively.