Axially Chiral Sulfonic Acids for Brønsted Acid Catalysis: 8-Benzoimidazolylnaphthalene-1-sulfonic Acids and Their Derivatives.

A new type of axially chiral sulfonic acid was developed. The synthesis is based on cheap commercially available materials and a practical method for optical resolution via diastereomeric salt formation, which can provide both enantiomers. Eleven benzoimidazolylnaphthalenesulfonic acids were prepared and four of them were isolated as pure and stable atropisomers.