Three novel organocatalysts (S)-5-prolylaminomethyltetrazole (3a), (S,S)-5-(1-prolylaminoethyl) tetrazole (3b) and (S,S)-5-(1-prolylamino-2-phenylethyl)tetrazole (3c) were readily prepared from N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(S)-proline and corresponding 5-(1-aminoalkyl)tetrazol (alkyl: methyl, ethyl and 2-phenylethyl) by the known reaction sequences in just two steps. Their catalytic per-formances were first evaluated in the asymmetric direct aldol reactions of acetone with electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes. At room temperature, the catalyst 3b displayed the efficient reactivity and the enantiomeric excess (ee) value of the products was up to 96%.

Key words: organocatalyst, asymmetric catalysis, direct aldol reaction, prolinamide derivative