Broadening the Scope of Steroidal Scaffolds: The Umpolung of a Bis-Primary Amine Precatalyst for the Insertion of CO2 into Epoxides

Org Lett. 2020 Sep 4;22(17):6988-6992. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c02537. Epub 2020 Aug 21.

Abstract

A cholic acid-based bis-primary amine is capable of promoting the insertion of CO2 into epoxides with the cooperative aid of an iodide anion. This framework is transformed in situ into a bis-carbamic acid. The latter is the active catalytic species, operating through H-bonding interactions. Our system works with complete atom economy, under solvent-free, metal-free, and mild conditions. Also, it can be recycled.