Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates in aqueous media

Asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates with formaldehyde in aqueous media has been achieved using praseodymium triflate and a chiral crown ether. Formaldehyde aqueous solution can be directly used for the reactions, and a water/THF mixture was found to be the best solvent system. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates.