alpha-Bromination, acid chlorides, 2,2,4,7-tetrabromonaphthalen-1(2H)-one, 2,4,7-tribromonaphthalen-1-yl 2-substituted-2-bromoacetates, 6′-methoxy-(8α,9R)-Cinchonan-9-ol 9-[1-(1,1-dimethylethyl) (2R)-1,2-pyrrolidinedicarboxylate], Quinine Derivative

The optimization of a practical, catalytic, asymmetric process for the α-bromination of acid chlorides to produce synthetically versatile, optically active α-bromoesters is reported. A range of products is produced in high enantioselectivity and moderate to good chemical yields with retention of both upon scale-up. The reactions herein are catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives, with the best performance achieved by the use of a proline cinchona alkaloid conjugate designed in a de novo fashion.