Chiral dendritic bis(oxazoline) copper(II) complexes as Lewis acid catalysts for enantioselective aldol reactions in aqueous media

A series of copper(II) complexes, with chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands disubstituted at the carbon atom linking the two oxazolines by Fréchet-type polyether dendrimers, have been designed and synthesized. These complexes were used as Lewis acid catalysts in enantioselective aldol reactions in aqueous media. Good yields and moderate enantioselectivities were achieved, which are comparable with those resulting from the corresponding smaller catalysts.