New polymer-supported mono- and bis-Cinchona alkaloid derivatives: synthesis and use in asymmetric organocatalyzed reactions.

The straightforward synthesis of polystyrene-supported Chinchona alkaloids and their application in the asymmetric dimerization of ketenes is reported. Six different immobilized derivatives, consisting of three dimeric and two monomeric 9-O ethers, were prepared by "click" anchoring of soluble alkaloid precursors on to azidomethyl resins. The resulting insoluble polymer-bound (IPB) organocatalysts were employed for promoting the dimerization of in-situ generated ketenes.