Photoswitchable Chiral Cation-Binding Catalyst: Photocontrol of Catalytic Activity on Enantioselective Aminal Synthesis

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c00741
• Publication Date: 2022-03-30T20:17:52Z
• Authors: Chandu G. Krishnan; Masaru Kondo; Kento Nakamura; Hiroaki Sasai; Shinobu Takizawa
• Keywords: Azobenzene; Aminal

Design of a suitable photoswitchable chiral cation-binding cage for the synthesis optically active aminals was established using azobenzene-BINOL hybrid oligoethylene glycol (ABOEG) through E/Z isomerization azobenzene unit. Under photoirradiation, both catalytic activity and enantioselectivity generating (Z)-ABOEG are enhanced, in contrast to that (E)-ABOEG, which can be attributed geometrically distinct coordination behavior between metal cation glycols.