Diastereoselection during 1,2-Addition of the Allylindium Reagent to α-Thia and α-Amino Aldehydes in Aqueous and Organic Solvents

The stereochemistry of the indium-promoted reaction of allyl bromide with α-thia (PhS and MeS), disubstituted α-amino (Bn2N, Me2N, isoindolyl), and protected α-amino aldehydes (Ac and Boc) in water has been evaluated. The reactions involving the sulfur derivatives are minimally diastereoselective, indicating that the allylindium reagent is not thiophilic. Chelation is not observed and π-facial discrimination is achieved via Felkin−Ahn transition states under the steric control of the substituents. The Garner aldehyde is also anti-diastereoselective. Interestingly, N-acetylmannosamine is appreciably responsive to chelation control and is capable of generating 90% of the syn β-amino alcohol when reacted in a 0.5 M NH4Cl solution. While the α-dibenzylamino substituent is too bulky to enter into complexation, the α-dimethylamino group is not and can lead to high levels (99%) of syn diastereomer. The size of other neighboring substituents does have an impact on π-facial discrimination in these systems and can erode the stereoselectivity accordingly.