Demystifying the asymmetry-amplifying, autocatalytic behavior of the Soai reaction through structural, mechanistic, and computational studies

The Soai reaction has profoundly impacted chemists’ perspective of chiral symmetry breaking, absolute asymmetric synthesis and its role in the origin of biological homochirality. Herein, we describe the unprecedented observation of asymmetry amplifying autocatalysis in the alkylation of 5-(trimethylsilylethynyl)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde using diisopropylzinc. Kinetic studies with a surrogate substrate and spectroscopic analysis of a series of zinc-alkoxides that incorporate specific structural mutations reveal a ‘pyridine-assisted cube escape’. The new tetrameric cluster functions as a catalyst that activates the substrate through a two point binding mode and poises a coordinated diisopropylzinc moiety for alkyl group transfer. Transition-state models leading to both the homochiral and heterochiral products were validated by density functional theory calculations. Moreover, experimental and computational analysis of the heterochiral complex provides a definitive explanation for the non-linear behavior of this system. Our deconstruction of the Soai system reveals the structural logic for autocatalyst evolution, function and substrate compatibility – a central mechanistic aspect of this iconic transformation.