Chemical transformation of substrates using nonmetallic, organic catalyst compositions

摘要

A method is provided for catalytically transforming a functional group within a first reactant by reaction with a second reactant in the presence of a nonmetallic, organic catalyst composition composed of a heteroatom-containing activator and an acid, or a salt of a heteroatom-containing activator and an acid. Exemplary first reactants are ,-unsaturated carbonyl compounds such as ,-unsaturated ketones and ,-unsaturated aldehydes. The heteroatom of the activator is a Group 15 or Group 16 element such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur or phosphorus, and exemplary heteroatom-containing activators are amines. Chiral heteroatom-containing activators can be used to catalyze enantioselective reactions, such that a chiral product is obtained from a chiral or achiral starting material in enantiomerically pure form.