The Rationale for Stereoinduction in Conjugate Addition to Alkylidenemalonates Bearing a Menthol-derived Chiral Auxiliary

Abstract Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations provided a new model to rationalize the stereoselectivity in the asymmetric addition to alkylidenemalonate bearing 8-phenylmenthyl groups as a chiral auxiliary. The diastereoselectivity in the addition reactions of a tetramethyldioxolanyl radical with various alkyl 8-phenylmenthyl benzylidenemalonates strongly supports the proposed model.