Enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by combinatorial catalysts

A new combinatorial catalyst system containing the disodium (R)-binaphtholate prepared in situ and a chiral quaternary ammonium salt was developed for enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aromatic aldehydes in up to 71% ee. A possible intermediate for the binaphtholate activation of the TMSCF3 and a catalytic cycle were proposed based on the experiments.