Abstract A series of valine dipeptide organocatalysts containing a primary amine group and two amide units have been developed and evaluated in the direct asymmetric intermolecular aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone. When 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP) was used as an acidic additive, the catalyzed reactions of various aldehydes and ketones gave the corresponding aldol products with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 95 ...
