Chiral polymeric nanoparticles for aldol reaction

In this paper, we report on the preparation and use of chiral polymeric nanoparticles, based on proline, as nanocatalysts for the asymmetric aldol reaction. The chiral polymeric nanoparticles were synthesized using a novel technique based on miniemulsion polymerization of chiral N-oleoyl-D/L-proline monomers. This method led to the formation of chiral polymeric nanoparticles with average size of 160 nm. Moreover, the polymeric chiral nanoparticles prepared by miniemulsion polymerization are of high surface area, and the entire particle, not just the surface, is chiral. The efficiency of the polymeric chiral nanoparticles for asymmetric aldol reaction in organic solvents and water is demonstrated. Although the chiral selectivity of the polymeric nanoparticles is low compared to free amino acid still they have the advantage of the low catalyst loading that is required and the opportunity to recycle the polymeric nanoparticle catalysts. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.