Iminium salt organocatalysts, method of making, and methods of using

A composition, comprising:

• an iminium catalyst having the following structure:
• wherein R1 is —CF3;
• wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —CH3, -Ph, —CF5, —CF3, —CH2Ph, -cyclohexyl, -adamantyl, -cyclopropyl, —CnHn+2, CnFn+2, biphenyl, substituted biphenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, aryl, perfluroraryl, substituted aryl, and glycosyl;
• wherein each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• —CH3, —CH2CH2—, -Ph, —CH2Ph, COCH3, —CO2CH3, —CnHn+2, —CnFn+2, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl, and perfluoroaryl;
• wherein each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• —CH3, —CH2CH2-, —F, —CF3, alkyl, substituted alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, and perfluorocycloalkyl;
• wherein R5 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, CF3, —C6F5, —NO2, —OCH3, Ph, -p-C6H4NO2, —OH, and alkyl;
• wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, CF3, —C6F5, —NO2, —OCH3, Ph, -p-C6H4NO2, —OH, and alkyl;
• wherein R7 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, CF3, —C6F5, —NO2, —OCH3, Ph, -p-C6H4NO2, —OH, and alkyl;
• wherein R8 is selected from the group consisting of:
• —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, CF3, —C6F5, —NO2, —OCH3, Ph, -p-C6H4NO2, CH2Ph, -t-Bu, i-Pr, —OH, and alkyl;
• and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of:
• —BF4−, —BPh4−, SbF6−, PF6−, ClO4−, —CF3CO2−, CH3SO3−, F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate.