Catalytic Domino Processes
Merging skeleton expanding operations as Domino type processes can provide a rapid increase of molecular complexity. Particularly attractive is the incorporation of catalytic steps. Examples from our laboratories are the first hydroformylation/Wittig-olefination/hydrogenation[33,60] (equation 1) and hydroformylation-Knoevenagel-hydrogenation reactions[41] (equation 2) which allow for the efficient construction of polyketide structural elements with high levels of acyclic stereocontrol (Scheme 11).
Scheme 11: Catalytic Domino reactions employing alkene hydroformylation.
Furthermore, a Domino hydroformylation/organocatalytic cross aldol reaction was developed which starting from simple alkene feedstocks and synthesis gas provides polypropionate building blocks in excellent levels of enantioselectivity (equation 3).[85]