Catalysts that can promote acyl transfer processes are important to enantioselective synthesis and their development has received significant attention in recent years. Despite noteworthy advances, discovery of small-molecule catalysts that are robust, efficient, recyclable and promote reactions with high enantioselectivity can be easily and cost-effectively prepared in significant quantities (that is, >10 g) has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that by attaching a binaphthyl moiety, appropriately modified to establish H-bonding interactions within the key intermediates in the catalytic cycle, and a 4-aminopyridyl unit, exceptionally efficient organic molecules can be prepared that facilitate enantioselective acyl transfer reactions. As little as 0.5 mol% of a member of the new catalyst class is sufficient to generate acyl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centres in quantitative yield and in up to 98:2 enantiomeric ratio (er) in 5 h. Kinetic resolution or desymmetrization of 1,2-diol can be performed with high efficiency and enantioselectivity as well.

A catalytic and stereoselective glycosylation of various glycosyl acceptors, such as methyl glycosides, thioglycosides, or a disarmed glycosyl fluoride, with benzyl-protected armed glycosyl fluoride was successfully carried out by using various protic acids in the presence of MS 5A. In the cases when trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) or perchloric acid (HClO₄) was used in diethyl ether (Et₂O), α-glycosides were obtained as major products, while β-stereoselectivity was observed when tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)boric acid [HB(C₆F₅)₄] was used in a mixed solvent of trifluoromethylbenzene (BTF)–pivalonitrile (^tBuCN) = 5 : 1. Stereoselectivity of this glycosylation was controlled by the properties of counter anions of the catalyst as well as by those of solvents. Also, one-pot trisaccharide synthesis was performed by successive addition of NIS and third-sugar to afford Glcα or β1–6Glcβ1–6Glc and Glcα or β1–6GlcNβ1–6Glc in excellent yields.