Nonlinear effects and auto-induction in the asymmetric aldol condensation of synthetic equivalents of acetoacetic esters

Positive nonlinear effects, (+)-NLEs, have been detected in the Ti(IV)/BINOL complex-mediated catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of three different masked acetoacetate esters. The use of a different procedure for the catalyst preparation disclosed the occurrence of aldol condensation of Chan's diene through an auto-inductive process.