The effects of aromatic and aliphatic anionic surfactants on Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reaction in water

Aromatic (2c and 2d) and aliphatic (2a and 2b) anionic surfactants were employed in Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed aldol reactions of some labile silyl enol ethers (3a and 3b) with aromatic aldehydes in water. The results indicated that the aromatic surfactants have a better ability to inhibit the hydrolysis of labile silyl enol ethers and promote the aldol reaction, leading to higher yields of aldol adducts.