Abstract

Molecular receptors with an enzyme-like behavior in the Michael addition of pyrrolidine to an alpha,beta-unsaturated lactam have been designed. Catalytic activities are discussed and related to the substrate association constants. Chiral assistance of enantiomerically pure receptors was also investigated. One of the receptors shows a 4:1 enantiomeric ratio (60% ee) for the addition of pyrrolidine and 3-pyrroline. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).